Editor's Pick Rural Nebraska already in a recession, economist says MATT OLBERDING Lincoln Journal Star Sep 1, 2024 Sep 1, 2024 Updated Jan 7, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save How bad is the economy in rural Nebraska?kAm~?6 @7 E96 DE2E6VD E@A 64@?@>:DED 36=:6G6D E96 DE2E6VD 72C>D 2?5 D>2== E@H?D 2C6 2=C625J DE2CE:?8 E@ D66 2 AF==324<[ 2D 2C6 CFC2= 2C62D @7 @E96C DE2E6D :? E96 C68:@?]k^AmkAmQ~FC #FC2= |2:?DEC66E DFCG6J :?5:42E6D 2 C646DD:@? :? E96 CFC2= 2C62D @7 E96 C68:@? 2?5 }63C2D<2[Q rC6:89E@? &?:G6CD:EJ 64@?@>:DE tC?:6 v@DD D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 DFCG6J E92E v@DD AF3=:D96D >@?E9=J 7@4FD6D @? 28C:4F=EFC2==J 56A6?56?E A@CE:@?D @7 }63C2D<2 2?5 ?:?6 @E96C DE2E6D[ H:E9 2? 2G6C286 4@>>F?:EJ D:K6 @7 `[b__ A6@A=6]k^Am kAm%96 pF8FDE #FC2= |2:?DEC66E x?56I C6=62D65 =2DE H66< D9@H65 E96 64@?@>:4 4@?5:E:@?D :? E96 `_\DE2E6 C68:@? H6C6 36=@H 8C@HE9 ?6FEC2= 7@C E96 `aE9 DEC2:89E >@?E9]k^Am People are also reading… Lexington girls tennis wins North Platte doubles invite Dancing with the Stars 2 Cozad youth wrestlers bring home NEUSAW state champion titles Lexington hosts unified track meet 3 Hi-Line track athletes break school records at Lexington JV Invite Dawson County Farm Bureau donates fencing supplies to support wildfire recovery Farmers and ranchers in the east come together to help the west after devastating fires North Platte High students sent home after police report 'active bomb threat' Gothenburg family forever grateful that firefighters saved their home Cozad's Chayden Hoffmaster breaks his own long jump school record at UNK Missoula Children's Theater brings 'Hansel and Gretel' to Lexington Local schools compete at Lexington JV Invite Lexington girls tennis dominates home dual against Holdrege ICE detains Kearney entrepreneur with deep Nebraska ties Local student-athletes honored as NCPA Academic All-State winter athletes kAm%96 C68:@?’D @G6C2== C625:?8 7@C pF8FDE D2?< E@ c_]h 7C@> c`]b :? yF=J[ H6== 36=@H E96 8C@HE9\?6FEC2= =6G6= @7 d_]k^AmkAm%96 DA64:7:4 :?56I 7@C }63C2D<2 H2D 6G6? H@CD6[ 5C@AA:?8 E@ be]d :? pF8FDE 7C@> bg]e :? yF=J] %96 @?=J DE2E6D H:E9 =@H6C :?56I6D 7@C E96 >@?E9 H6C6 z2?D2D 2?5 (J@>:?8]k^Am kAm“(62< 28C:4F=EFC6 4@>>@5:EJ AC:46D[ D:?<:?8 28C:4F=EFC6 6BF:A>6?E D2=6D 2?5 564=:?:?8 72C> 6IA@CED AFD965 E96 @G6C2== C625:?8 36=@H 8C@HE9 ?6FEC2= 7@C E96 `aE9 DEC2:89E >@?E9[” v@DD D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E 244@>A2?J:?8 E96 C6A@CE]k^Am kAmx? 2? 6>2:=[ v@DD D2:5 E96 :?7=2E:@?\25;FDE65 8C@DD 5@>6DE:4 AC@5F4E @7 &]$] 72C>D 92D 72==6? >@C6 E92? Sh 3:==:@?[ @C 23@FE e]eT[ D:?46 E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C @7 a_a`] qFE >@DE @7 E92E 564=:?6[ Se 3:==:@?[ 92D 4@>6 :? ;FDE E96 A2DE J62C]k^Am kAmx? }63C2D<2 DA64:7:42==J[ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^3FD:?6DD^C6A@CE\?63C2D<2\72C>\:?4@>6\6IA64E65\E@\564=:?6\E9:D\J62C^2CE:4=60h26`g5c4\7`5`\``66\3`g5\5b32e52b5d5_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CE 62C=:6C E9:D J62Ck^2m AC65:4E65 72C> :?4@>6 H:== 5C@A E@ Se 3:==:@? E9:D J62C[ 5@H? 7C@> Sf]a 3:==:@? =2DE J62C 2?5 E96 =@H6DE ?F>36C D:?46 a_a_]k^Am kAmv@DD D2:5 E96 564=:?6 :? 72C> :?4@>6 :D QE96 AC:>2CJ C62D@?Q 7@C E96 DE2E6VD A@@C D9@H:?8 :? E96 C646?E=J C6=62D65 7:CDE\BF2CE6C vs! 2?5 A6CD@?2= :?4@>6 DE2E:DE:4D]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 52E2 7C@> E96 qFC62F @7 t4@?@>:4 p?2=JD:D[ }63C2D<2VD vs! 564=:?65 b]`T @? 2? 2??F2= 32D:D 4@>A2C65 H:E9 E96 AC6G:@FD BF2CE6C[ H9:49 H2D E96 7:7E9\3:886DE 5C@A 2>@?8 DE2E6D]k^Am kAm%96 ?:?6 DE2E6D H:E9 E96 H@CDE vs! A6C7@C>2?46 H6C6 2== 28C:4F=EFC6\56A6?56?E DE2E6D[ 2?5 E96 qtp D2:5 28C:4F=EFC6 H2D 2 5C28 @? E96 64@?@>:6D @7 E9@D6 DE2E6D]k^Am kAmp?@E96C @7 E96 DE2E6VD E@A 64@?@>:DED[ tC:4 %9@>AD@?[ H9@ CF?D E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=?VD qFC62F @7 qFD:?6DD #6D62C49[ 28C665 E92E 28C:4F=EFC6 92D 366? 2 5C28 @? E96 DE2E6]k^Am kAmQx E9:?< E96 5C@A :? 4C@A AC:46D 9FCE E96 }63C2D<2 64@?@>J 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 E96 J62C 2?5 :D D9@H:?8 FA :? E96 vs! ?F>36CD[Q %9@>AD@? D2:5]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Thompson kAm%96 C6=2E:G6=J A@@C A6C7@C>2?46 @7 28C:4F=EFC6 H2D 2=D@ 2 5C28 @? E96 DE2E6VD A@AF=2E:@? 2D 2 H9@=6 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ 9@H >F49 >@?6J E96J >2<6]k^Am kAm}63C2D<2 2=D@ 72C65 A@@C=J :? A6CD@?2= :?4@>6 52E2[ H:E9 :ED b]`T 7:CDE\BF2CE6C 82:? =@H6C E92? 6G6CJ @E96C DE2E6 6I46AE }@CE9 s2<@E2]k^AmkAmq@E9 E96 vs! 2?5 72C> :?4@>6 52E2 2C6 2 72C 4CJ 7C@> E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C @7 =2DE J62C[ H96? }63C2D<2 925 3@E9 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^3FD:?6DD^?63C2D<2\D66D\DEC@?8\:?4@>6\85A\8C@HE9\:?\7:CDE\BF2CE6C^2CE:4=60`cb22gf_\`756\``66\h5e5\gfghc`3`efh5]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD64@?5\9:896DE vs! ?F>36CD 2?5 E96 D64@?5\9:896DE A6CD@?2= :?4@>6 8C@HE9k^2m]k^AmkAmqFE :EVD ?@E 2== 325 ?6HD 7@C E96 DE2E6]k^Am kAm%96 @E96C DFCG6J v@DD AFED E@86E96C[ E96 |:5\p>6C:42 qFD:?6DD r@?5:E:@?D x?56I[ H9:49 4@G6CD }63C2D<2 2?5 6:89E @E96C DE2E6D[ H2D 23@G6 8C@HE9 ?6FEC2= 7@C E96 E9:C5 E:>6 :? 7@FC >@?E9D :? yF=J[ :?5:42E:?8 E96 64@?@>J :D 8C@H:?8]k^Am kAm%96 :?56I :D 962G:=J H6:89E65 E@H2C5 >2?F724EFC:?8 24E:G:EJ[ 2?5 }63C2D<2 H2D 2>@?8 E96 DE2E6D D9@H:?8 DEC6?8E9 :? >2?F724EFC:?8[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE[ H:E9 v@DD ?@E:?8 E92E >2?F724EFC:?8 6IA@CED 7C@> E96 DE2E6 2C6 FA ?62C=J ``T J62C E@ 52E6 4@>A2C65 H:E9 =2DE J62C]k^Am kAmp?5 2 >@?E9=J DFCG6J E92E %9@>AD@? 2DD6>3=6D[ E96 }63C2D<2 {625:?8 t4@?@>:4 x?5:42E@C[ 92D 366? D9@H:?8 A@D:E:G6 C6DF=ED 7@C D@>6 E:>6]k^Am kAm%96 =2E6DE G6CD:@? @7 E96 DFCG6J[ C6=62D65 (65?6D52J[ D9@HD E96 DE2E6VD 64@?@>J 2AA62CD E@ 36 DFC8:?8 C:89E ?@H]k^AmkAm%96 :?5:42E@C[ H9:49 >62DFC6D D:I 4@>A@?6?ED @7 E96 64@?@>J[ 8C6H `]faT :? yF=J[ E96 =2C86DE ;F>A D:?46 u63CF2CJ] %96 :?5:42E@C 92D ?@H D9@H? :?4C62D6D 7:G6 @FE @7 E96 A2DE D:I >@?E9D 2?5 ?:?6 @FE @7 E96 A2DE `a]k^Am kAmQ%96 C:D:?8 :?5:42E@C G2=F6 DF886DED E96 }63C2D<2 64@?@>J H:== 8C@H E9C@F89 E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C 2?5 :?E@ 62C=J a_ad[Q %9@>AD@? D2:5 :? 2 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^Am kAmp== D:I 4@>A@?6?ED E96 :?56I >62DFC6D — 3FD:?6DD 6IA64E2E:@?D[ 3F:=5:?8 A6C>:ED 7@C D:?8=6\72>:=J 9@>6D[ 2:C=:?6 A2DD6?86C 4@F?ED[ :?:E:2= 4=2:>D 7@C F?6>A=@J>6?E :?DFC2?46[ E96 G2=F6 @7 E96 &]$] 5@==2C 2?5 >2?F724EFC:?8 9@FCD H@C<65 — :>AC@G65 =2DE >@?E9]k^AmkAm%96 DEC@?86DE 8C@HE9 H2D :? 3F:=5:?8 A6C>:ED[ H9:49 %9@>AD@? D2:5 4@F=5 C6AC6D6?E 2 E6>A@C2CJ DA:<6 3FE 2=D@ 4@F=5 >62? }63C2D<2 H:== D66[ Q2 5FC23=6 6IA2?D:@? :? 9@>6 3F:=5:?8 2D :?E6C6DE C2E6D EC6?5 =@H6C]”k^Am kAms6DA:E6 E96 DEC6?8E9 @7 E96 &}{ :?56I[ %9@>AD@? D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:= E92E 96 H@F=5 4@?D:56C 4FCC6?E 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 :? E96 DE2E6 E@ 36 Q>@56C2E6]Qk^Am kAm~E96C C646?E 64@?@>:4 52E2 2=D@ D9@HD }63C2D<2VD 64@?@>J :D 2E =62DE DE23=6[ :7 ?@E 8C@H:?8]k^AmkAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 :D 9:896C :? }63C2D<2 ?@H E92? :E H2D 2 J62C 28@[ 52E2 7C@> E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 {23@C D9@H E92E E96 DE2E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=DE2C]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^3FD:?6DD^?63C2D<2D\;F=J\F?6>A=@J>6?E\C2E6\D2>6\2D\=2DE\>@?E9\FA\7C@>\=2DE\J62C^2CE:4=60dh`fh6g2\d35g\``67\hg_b\_fa36e4h4f72]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm92D 25565 ac[___ ;@3D :? E96 A2DE `a >@?E9Dk^2m]k^Am Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. 0 Comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport Inside the world’s busiest airport during DHS shutdown Inside the world’s busiest airport during DHS shutdown DHS funding bill heads to House after late-night Senate approval DHS funding bill heads to House after late-night Senate approval Savannah Guthrie in NBC News interview appeals for help finding her missing mother Savannah Guthrie in NBC News interview appeals for help finding her missing mother
Concerns raised over Trump’s daily Iran war briefings; Philadelphia DA has warning for ICE agents at airport