The cost of doing business in the Greater Des Moines region is 14.6% below the national average, according to the latest Cost of Doing Business Index from Moody’s Analytics that places Des Moines in the top quarter of all metros for business affordability.

The latest Moody’s Analytics Cost of Doing Business Index shows that the Greater Des Moines area is the most competitive it has been since the index began in 1990, according to a news release from the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

“Greater Des Moines’ affordability is one of the several factors shaping the region’s economic landscape,” Tiffany Tauscheck, president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, said in a prepared statement. “As companies assess market conditions, a low cost of doing business plays a major role in site selection decisions. Comparison with peer metros show that the Greater Des Moines region stacks up as a smart choice in a competitive business climate and reinforces our economic strength as a 12-county region.”