ECONOMY SLOWS IN RURAL AREAS

(Omaha World-Herald) -- Omaha.com reports that the Rural Mainstreet Index -- a "monthly survey, rural Midwestern bankers," including bankers in Nebraska -- showed "a slight slowdown in their communities’ economies after two months of economic gain." The index was just below 50 for July, which indicates economic decline. However, "Nebraska’s index was 53.2, down slightly from 55.3 in June." One Iowa banker said: "People seem to have very little confidence in the economy getting better."