About the Ag Economy Barometer

James Mintert & Michael Langemeier   The May reading of the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer was 141, 16 points higher than in April 2018 and the highest barometer value since January 2017 (Figure 1). The rise in the barometer, a sentiment index derived from a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers across the U.S., was driven both by producers improved view of current conditions and, especially, their more optimistic view of the future. The Index of Current Conditions rose to 132 during May, 9 points higher than in April while the Index of Future Expectations climbed to a…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell to 125 in April, which was 10 points lower than a month earlier and 15 points below its February reading (Figure 1). The sharp drop in the ag producer sentiment index, which is based upon a monthly a survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S., was attributable to producers’ weakening perceptions of current conditions in the production agriculture sector, along with a decline in their expectations for future economic conditions. The Index of Current Conditions fell to 123, 11 points lower than in March,…

James Mintert, David Widmar and Michael Langemeier The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer slipped to 135 in March, down 5 points compared to February, but unchanged from January’s results (Figure 1). The decline in the sentiment index, which is based upon a monthly a survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S, was attributable to ag producers’ weakening perceptions of current conditions and a decline in their expectations for the future. The Index of Current Conditions fell to 134 in March, a 9-point drop from February, and the Index of Future Expectations slipped to 135, down 4 points compared…