The Creighton University Rural Main Street Index declined in February, but remained above growth neutral. The overall index declined to 51.6 from 55,9 in January. This is the sixth straight month the reading has moved above growth neutral
According to Creighton University Economist, Ernie Goss, due to weak farm income, over 40 percent of Bankers reported that their banks had restructured loans while only three indicated that their banks had rejected a higher percentage of farmland loans. Approximately one fourth of bankers indicated no change in lending practices.
The Kansas RMI for February declined to 54.0 from January’s 57.0. The state’s farmland price index sank to 44.3 from 45.6 in January. The new hiring index for Kansas declined to 59.4 from 64.2 in January. Over the past 12 months, rural areas in Kansas have experienced job additions slightly behind urban areas of the state.
