LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Today) – Most rural Nebraskans are at least concerned about their household’s cost of living, income and finances, according to the latest report from the 2024 Nebraska Rural Survey, which focuses on economic and trade policy.

Eight in 10 rural Nebraskans surveyed are either somewhat or very concerned about their household’s cost of living, nearly seven in 10 are concerned about household income, and six in 10 are concerned about their household’s personal finances.

The survey shows this is especially true for low-income households.

People with the lowest household incomes are more likely to be concerned about their personal finances. Nearly eight in 10 respondents with a household income of less than $75,000 are at least somewhat concerned about their finances, compared with 44% of those with a household income of $100,000 or more.

“In previously released results of the 2024 Rural Survey, we found that rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about their current situation,” said Brad Lubben, Nebraska Extension policy specialist. “These economic concerns may be the key factor behind the decline in overall sentiment of rural Nebraskans. Rising consumer prices due to high inflation rates over the past several years have increased the cost of living and caused many rural Nebraskans to worry about their economic well-being.”

The 2024 Rural Survey also asked a series of questions about trade policy and its importance to Nebraska.

Fifty-five percent of rural Nebraskans surveyed think international trade is good for the state’s economy, while only 8% think it’s bad. But Panhandle residents are less likely to agree with this view than residents of other regions. Just over a third (36%) of Panhandle residents surveyed say trade is good for Nebraska’s economy, while 66% of north-central residents say trade is good for Nebraska’s economy. While most respondents statewide think trade is good for the state’s economy, a smaller percentage (43%) think it’s good for job creation in the state, while 16% think it’s bad.

Rural Nebraskans are less positive about the effects of international trade on them personally, said Becky Vogt, director of the Rural Survey. At least four in 10 people surveyed think trade is good for their standard of living, while 35% think it is good for their business or business. According to the survey, most rural Nebraskans think international trade is neutral for these products, but most respondents in agricultural occupations (67%) think international trade is good for their business or business.

When asked what factors should be used in determining U.S. trade policy, six in 10 respondents think protecting American jobs should be very important. Just over half think creating new export opportunities for agricultural producers and other businesses in the state (55%) and lower prices for consumers (51%) should be very important considerations. Less important issues include strengthening economic relations with other countries (41%), strengthening and maintaining political relations with other countries (39%), creating choices for consumers (39%), and trade to pressure countries that challenge U.S. economic and political priorities. including the use of policies. (27%).

“The Rural Survey findings help illustrate the complexity of trade and its economic impacts on Nebraskans,” Lubben said. “Trade gives consumers access to a global supply of goods and services that can increase choice and reduce costs. However, in cases where exports are good for profits but imports compete with domestic production, trade may have different effects for producers.”

To learn more about rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of economic and trade policy, policymakers, community leaders and the public are invited to the Rural Survey webinar at noon on Nov. 13. More details and registration are available at: https://ruralpoll.unl.edu.

The Rural Survey is the largest annual survey measuring rural Nebraskans’ perceptions of politics and quality of life. Surveys were sent to more than 5,800 households in Nebraska in late spring and summer, and 1,010 households responded, representing 86 of the state’s 93 counties. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 3%. Rural Prosperity Nebraska is conducting the survey with funding from Nebraska Extension.

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