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Rural Mainstreet Index lowest in seven years

The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index has fallen to its lowest level in seven years.

The 10 state survey of rural bank presidents and CEO’s dropped to 31.8 in October from September’s 37.3.

Fifty is considered growth neutral, which the index has been below for 14 consecutive months.

Those surveyed project more than one in five farmers with negative cash flows in 2016, mainly because of a 19 percent drop in livestock prices and 18 percent drop in grain prices over the past year.

The index was higher in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, with losses recorded in Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri in October.