The Creighton University Heider College of Business Rural Mainstreet Index for September fell from August’s weak reading, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. September was the second consecutive month the overall index has declined, reflecting weakness stemming from lower agricultural and energy commodity prices, according to Ernie Goss, regional economist at Creighton University. For Iowa, the September index improved to 54.2 from August’s 53.4. Iowa’s farmland-price index for September rose to 47.2 from August’s 44.0, while the Iowa’s new-hiring index for September decreased to 60.0 from 67.8 in August.