Iowa’s Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral in April but improved to 46.4 from 39.7 in March. 

The state’s farm and ranchland price index April dropped to 46.4 from 51.0 in March, and its new hiring index declined to 46.3 from March’s 48.7

For the 14th time since January 2025, the 10-state region’s overall Rural Mainstreet Index reading was below growth neutral, improving to 47.9 from March’s 40.9. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

“Weakness in farm commodity prices and elevated agriculture input costs are spilling over into the rural business community,” Ernie Goss, Creighton University’s chair in regional economics, said in a prepared statement. “Approximately, 54.2% of bankers reported that their local economy was in a recession.” 

Iowa exports of agriculture goods and livestock for the first two months of 2026, compared with the same period in 2025, climbed by 29.9% to $368.1 million, according to trade data from the International Trade Association.

For the third time in 2026, the region’s farm and ranchland price index sank below growth neutral to 48.0 from 50.2 in March. “Though farm and ranchland values have been holding up much better than farm income, weak farm income, lower farm liquidity and tougher credit standards have pushed farmland values lower,” Goss said.

The April farm equipment sales index was 26.1, down from 28.6 in March, marking the 32nd straight month that the index has fallen below growth neutral.

Other regional findings from the report include:

• The April loan volume index declined to 65.2 from March’s 78.6 and the checking deposit index fell to 60.9 from 64.3 in March, but the index for certificates of deposits increased to 56.5 from 52.4 in March. 
• The new hiring index for April improved to 50.0 from 49.9 in March. “In April, only 4.3% of bankers reported an upturn in hiring for the month,” Goss said. 
• Despite rural bankers remaining pessimistic about economic growth for their area over the next six months, the April confidence index improved to 39.1 from 29.5 in March. “In spite of $12 billion of federal farm support, weak grain prices, higher input prices and expected negative farm cash flows continued to weigh on banker confidence,” Goss said. 
• The home sales index declined to  45.8 from 54.5 in March. 
• Regional retail sales sank to 39.1 from 43.2 in March.