In the CSI columns we rely heavily on the results from our proprietary surveys. This provides current information and data specific to our subscribers and the businesses we interact with. It is also valuable to aggregate information from other resources. This allows us to corroborate the data we generate and provide context to the information we generate.
When looking at broader industry data it is critical to remember that most data looks at wider categories within the industry and may not be granular enough to be applied directly to a specific niche. That said, here are some nuggets from other data sources with attributions to allow you to return to them in the future.
The health and market sentiment for agriculture has an obvious relationship to the types of construction covered in Frame Building News magazine. Purdue University is a great source of agricultural industry information and market sentiment. They issue a monthly Ag Economy Barometer and conduct an annual Producer Survey.
The June Barometer result (released June 3, 2025) is 146. Lower than May 2025, but the third highest since May 2021. Find the Ag Economy Barometer on the Bloomberg Terminal [https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/]: AGECBARO, AGECCURC and AGECFTE.
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer is a nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy.
One interesting chart for Frame Building News readers is titled “Do you think in a year from now your farm operation will be better off financially.” Comparing June data since 2021, this is the first time where “Better off” was above “Worse off.”
Another data set is “Plans for Farm Building Purchases in the Upcoming Year Compared to a Year Ago.” Despite the title specifying “Compared to a Year Ago,” the numbers are stable over the last two years. This could be an indication of general sentiment rather than an actual year-over-year comparison.
The first two tables relate to the “Primary Reason Now is a Good Time to Make Large Investments.” The number one reason is anticipated strong cash flow.
According to the data from Purdue University, the outlook for agriculture and ag construction appears significantly more positive than it has for four years.
More information and the charts provided can be found at ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/. FBN
