The Rural Mainstreet Index, which measures the economic outlook in rural America, was impacted by rural bankers who expressed concerns about trade tensions and their effect on the farm economy. Seventy-six percent of rural bankers said export markets are very important to their local economy. The confidence index dropped from 58 in March to an index of 50 in April. The overall index dropped somewhat but did remain above growth-neutral for a third-straight month. However, weak farm income continues to weigh on the rural economy.
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