interest rates

Questions abound about the health and direction of the farm economy.  Ben Brown, agricultural economist with the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, said he’s getting a lot of questions about the overall U.S. economy.   I...

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a half a point last week, which was a little larger than some economists had expected.  With that reduction, oil prices moved higher in trade, spending much of the past week in the mid $70 per barrel range.  Pa...

Kicking off an expected loosening of U.S. monetary policy, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half a percentage point earlier this week.  The move brings a larger-than-normal reduction in the cost of borrowing, which followed growing concern about the health of America’s job market.  According to ...

The latest consumer price index data indicates a slowdown in inflation, which has dropped below 3% for the first time since 2021.  The Federal Reserve is expected to begin cutting interest rates this month, while longer-term interest rates have been falling for weeks.   ...

Oil prices for much of the month of September have edged down slightly, but steadily.  Patrick DeHaan with Gasbuddy.com says right now, the balance of the global economy is driving oil prices.   “Weakness in China has long overshadowed oil driving oil prices. In the last week do...

Despite numerous headwinds in 2022, agricultural lending by U.S. farm banks increased by 8.1% last year to $103.1 billion.  The American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report said the change is due to a 9.7% increase in outstanding loans, secured by farmland and a 5.9% increas...

Farm real estate values increased considerably in 2022 but showed signs of softening during the final months of the year as interest rates rose sharply.  Interest rates on farm loans jumped to decade highs alongside increases in the federal funds rate.    ...

The U.S. economy will progressively slow through the first half of this year, and recession fears are still high, and warranted.  That assessment from CoBank, adding inflation is starting to loosen its grip on farm country.  While a slowing economy does mean that impact of inflation is expected to diminish, that also means the crop prices, and lesser extent livestock prices producers receive in 20

Creighton University’s most recent monthly Rural Mainstreet Index Survey, was primarily sideways, that according to survey organizer Ernie Goss.  He noted the Federal Reserve raising interest rates has cooled economic activity, but not as much as the Fed Reserve would like.  Goss anticipa...

The turbulent see-saw that is oil prices continues to move back and forth.  Over the past week, West Texas Crude prices have moved lower, by slight amounts.  Pattrick DeHaan with GasBuddy said the reason those prices have moved lower may have many people scratching their head.   “Good and ...