Rural

Any score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.

That's up from 8 in 10 who said the same thing in September.

For rural residents, the videoconferences ensure they play a key role in vetting candidates.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

The U.S. Postal Service, like other retail businesses, is losing customers to online shopping.

Nonetheless, the confidence index jumped to 52.4 from 46.7 in January.

The confidence index reflects expectations for the economy six months out, and it fell to 46.7 in the January survey from 51.2 in December.

The index ranges between 0 and 100, with any number under 50 indicating a shrinking economy.

Goss blamed the concern on weak farm income and low commodity prices.

Bankers expect farmland prices to decline by another 3.5 percent on average over the next year.