The latest survey of supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states shows the economy sagging under the weight of retaliatory tariffs, as the region’s manufacturing sector sheds jobs for the sixth straight month. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the September survey indicates many farmers are in for a difficult harvest season as the Trump administration tariffs impacting markets.
A year ago, China bought about 60% of all U-S soybean exports and is now buying none. As a result, soybean prices are plummeting as Iowa growers are seeing per-bushel prices at one-third of what they were last fall. Goss says the Creighton survey shows both imports and exports weakened during September, while wholesale prices rose from August and stayed at elevated levels.
Hiring is down significantly, and the survey shows the Midwest region lost 3,800 manufacturing jobs in the past month, while Goss says the U-S lost 78,000 manufacturing jobs.
According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, Iowa’s manufacturing sector exported $8.4 billion in goods for the first seven months of this year, compared to $9.3 billion for the same period last year. That’s a drop of more than 9%.
