The Rural Mainstreet group released a new survey this week conducted by bankers across 10 western and plains states, including Wyoming.
The survey measures economic movement with farms across Wyoming, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
The survey measures the economy using an “index score.” Anything above a 50 on the score indicates growth. In May 2019, the score was at a 48.5. In June, the score rose to a 53.2, showing significant growth from month-to-month.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey. Gross said that higher agricultural commodity prices and rebuilding from recent floods were the biggest contributors in boosting June’s score.
Goss noted that despite negative effects from trade tensions and tariffs, nearly 70% of bank CEO’s either supported or wanted to raise the Trump administration’s current tariffs.