Midwest, Plains economy slowing down, new survey suggests

A survey of bankers in rural parts of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming shows economic slowdown for this region, The Associated Press reports. "The overall Rural Mainstreet index for the region dipped below 50 for the first time this year, hitting 49.3 in August," the story says.

Despite healthy farm income, hiring has declined among rural businesses and "bankers are losing confidence in the economy," Ernie Goss, lead surveyor and economist at Creighton University told AP. Thirty-five percent of those surveyed believe the U. S. will be in another recession by year-end. (Read more)