News
Interactive map shows January jobless rates by Iowa community
2+ day, 1+ hour ago (309+ words) Business Record Staff | Apr 10, 2026 | 10: 26 am | Marshalltown continues to have the highest unemployment rate among Iowa's cities, with 10% of the community's workforce unemployed in January, data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. In January, 1, 400 people in Marshalltown's workforce of 13, 800 were unemployed. Among…...
Iowa employers add jobs in January but employment still lags 2025
3+ day, 10+ hour ago (373+ words) Business Record Staff | Apr 8, 2026 | 1: 08 pm | Iowa employers added 6, 400 jobs in January, led by hiring in professional and business services, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. Even with the gains, Iowa's total nonfarm employment has yet to rebound to its…...
IBC survey finds strong economic optimism among Iowa business leaders
3+ day, 7+ hour ago (620+ words) Kyle Heim | Apr 7, 2026 | 4: 28 pm | Iowa business leaders remain optimistic about the state's economic outlook heading into the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest quarterly survey from the Iowa Business Council. The organization's first-quarter Economic Outlook Survey index rose to…...
Rural Mainstreet Index drops to lowest level since October 2025
3+ week, 14+ hour ago (318+ words) Business Record Staff | Mar 20, 2026 | 10: 08 am | Iowa's Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth neutral in March, dropping to 39. 7 from 46. 5 the previous month. The state's farm and ranchland price index for February rose to 51. 0 from 44. 4, and its new hiring index improved to…...
Sharp upturn in new orders propels Mid-America Business Conditions Index into positive territory
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (671+ words) Business Record Staff | Mar 3, 2026 | 4: 18 pm | The Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index moved above growth neutral in February with its highest reading since March 2025. The index, an economic indicator for a nine-state region including Iowa, was 54. 7, up from 49. 6 in January....
Median price of homes sold in Des Moines area inches upward
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (247+ words) Business Record Staff | Feb 16, 2026 | 10: 09 am | The median sales price of a home sold in the Des Moines area in January was $295, 000, up 4. 2% from December's median sales price and 3. 5% higher than a year ago, Des Moines Area Association of Realtors data…...
Economic Forecast panelists, attendees discuss takeaways, lingering questions on Iowa Economy Podcast
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (595+ words) Gigi Wood | Feb 13, 2026 | 6: 00 am | While business leaders say the 2026 economic outlook in Iowa will be "steady but strained," or neutral but slightly better than 2025, outcomes will differ by sector." Small- and medium-sized businesses might struggle, while larger firms perform well....
Made In Iowa: Precision Under Pressure - Inside Iowa's Defense Manufacturing Powerhouse
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (107+ words) Business Record Staff | Jan 29, 2026 | 12: 13 pm | Des Moines and West Des Moines are the first cities in the U. S. to receive" Jason Kerndt has been appointed market president of Home State Bank's Polk City branch, the" Veridian Credit Union has awarded $100, 000 in…...
Iowa Talent Poll finds state appealing to residents, but economic concerns persist
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (380+ words) Business Record Staff | Jan 27, 2026 | 4: 26 pm | Iowa continues to rank highly among residents for quality-of-life factors such as safety, friendliness and cost of living, but concerns about their ability to achieve career and financial goals persist, according to the Iowa Chamber…...
Where Economic Forecast panelists are bearish and bullish on the economy
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (374+ words) Business Record Staff | Jan 26, 2026 | 2: 58 pm | Here's what they said. Their responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length. Robin Anderson, state chief economist and division administrator, research and policy division, Iowa Department of Revenue Bearish: "What's happening with long-term…...