Merger and acquisition activity in the Midwest declined 28.2 percent in the first half of 2016, according to a new report from MergerMarket. M&A activity in the 12 Midwestern states tracked by MergerMarket totaled 429 transactions worth a total of $146.7 billion in the first half of 2016, down from 472 transactions worth a total of $204.2 billion in the first half of 2015. The slowdown in M&A activity was on par with the overall decline in total U.S. M&A activity, which fell to $579 billion from $822.7 billion in the year-ago period, or 29.6 percent. Despite the decrease, the first part of the year was still the Midwest’s third-highest first-half value since 2001.