January Rural Mainstreet Index Above Growth Neutral

The January Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above a growth neutral, that according to the latest monthly survey of bank CEO’s in rural areas of a ten-state region.

The January index was at 52.0, its highest reading since July 2023, and up from December’s 50.1.

“More than one in three bankers, or 34.7%, indicated that their local economy was currently in a recession,” said Dr. Ernie Goss of Creighton University. “Another 27% of them expect their local economy to experience recession conditions in the first half of 2026.”

Regarding President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, almost 40% of the bankers support pulling back on tariffs.

After rising above growth-neutral in December, the farm and ranchland index fell below the threshold in January with a reading of 46.0. The farm equipment sales index sank to a very weak 18.8, but was up from December’s even weaker 15.0,

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