Federal Reserve district · KC

Kansas City

Held steady; subdued with pockets of strong demand; diesel squeezing margins. (October 2026)

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Edition	Score	Outlook	In brief
October 2026	0.0	+0.5	Held steady; subdued with pockets of strong demand; diesel squeezing margins.
August 2026	0.0	0.0	Little change; underlying conditions softened; expectations more mixed.
July 2026	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded slightly on manufacturing; inflation compressed margins.
May 2026	+1.0	0.0	Activity increased slightly; consumer-facing firms report margin compression
April 2026	+1.0	+0.5	Grew slightly; discretionary demand softening.
February 2026	+1.0	−0.5	Increased slightly; energy up on higher prices.
January 2026	+1.0	+0.5	Rose slightly on service sales and factory orders.
November 2025	−1.0	+0.5	Growth slowed slightly; consumer activity cooling.
October 2025	−1.0	+1.0	Fell slightly; broadly optimistic for 2026.
August 2025	0.0	+0.5	Generally flat; employment down modestly, margins compressed.
July 2025	0.0	–	Mostly unchanged, with some rebound in consumer and financial activity.
May 2025	−2.0	−1.0	Declined moderately on retail, housing and manufacturing.
April 2025	+1.0	−1.0	Grew slightly; expectations weakened considerably.
February 2025	0.0	0.0	Unchanged; consumer spending decreased moderately.
January 2025	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded slightly, led by consumers; growth expected to accelerate.
November 2024	+0.5	+1.0	Grew modestly.
October 2024	0.0	0.0	Held steady.
August 2024	0.0	+0.5	Remained stable.
July 2024	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded at a moderate pace.
May 2024	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded at a moderate pace.
April 2024	+0.5	0.0	Expanded modestly.
February 2024	0.0	0.0	Stable.
January 2024	−1.0	+0.5	Declined moderately.
November 2023	−0.5	−0.5	Declined slightly.
October 2023	−0.5	0.0	Softened slightly.
August 2023	0.0	0.0	Stable.
June 2023	0.0	−0.5	Changed little.
May 2023	0.0	−0.5	Changed little.
April 2023	−0.5	−0.5	Declined slightly.
February 2023	−0.5	−0.5	Declined slightly.
January 2023	−0.5	+0.5	Declined slightly.
November 2022	−0.5	−0.5	Declined slightly.
October 2022	+0.5	−0.5	Expanded at a modest pace.
August 2022	+0.5	−0.5	Expanded slightly.
July 2022	+0.5	0.0	Slowed to a modest pace.
May 2022	+1.0	0.0	Grew at a moderate pace.
April 2022	+2.0	+1.0	Accelerated to a robust pace.
February 2022	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded at a modest pace.
January 2022	+1.0	+0.5	Finished 2021 at a moderate pace.
November 2021	+1.0	+1.5	Expanded at a moderate pace.
October 2021	+1.0	+0.5	Grew at a moderate pace.
August 2021	+0.5	+0.5	Grew at a modest pace.
July 2021	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
May 2021	+1.0	+1.0	Improved at a moderate pace.
April 2021	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
February 2021	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded slightly.
January 2021	0.0	+0.5	Activity steady.
November 2020	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded slightly.
October 2020	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded slightly.
August 2020	+1.0	+0.5	Strengthened moderately.
July 2020	+0.5	+0.5	Rebounded slightly.
May 2020	−2.0	−1.5	Declined substantially.
April 2020	−1.5	−1.5	Deteriorated sharply.
February 2020	0.0	+0.5	Largely unchanged.
January 2020	+0.5	+0.5	Edged up.
November 2019	0.0	0.0	Flat.
October 2019	+0.5	0.0	Rose slightly.
August 2019	+0.5	+0.5	Edged up.
July 2019	+0.5	+0.5	Continued to expand slightly.
May 2019	+0.5	+0.5	Continued to expand slightly.
April 2019	+0.5	+0.5	Continued to expand slightly.
February 2019	+0.5	+0.5	Slight growth.
January 2019	0.0	+0.5	Roughly flat.
November 2018	0.0	0.0	Increased slightly.
October 2018	+1.0	+0.5	Increased at a moderate pace.
August 2018	+0.5	+0.5	Increased modestly.
July 2018	+1.0	+1.0	Increased at a moderate pace.
May 2018	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded at a moderate pace.
April 2018	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded at a moderate pace.
February 2018	+0.5	+1.0	Increased at a modest pace.
January 2018	+0.5	+1.0	Increased at a modest pace.
November 2017	+1.0	+0.5	Increased moderately.
October 2017	+0.5	+1.0	Increased at a modest pace.
August 2017	+0.5	+0.5	Increased modestly.
June 2017	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
May 2017	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to increase moderately.
April 2017	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
February 2017	+0.5	+1.0	Expand modestly.
January 2017	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded modestly.
November 2016	+0.2	+0.5	Increased slightly.
October 2016	+0.2	+0.5	Rose slightly.
August 2016	0.0	+0.5	Largely flat.
July 2016	+0.5	+1.0	Increased modestly.
May 2016	+0.5	+0.5	Slightly slower pace.
April 2016	+0.5	+0.5	Increased slightly.
February 2016	−0.5	+0.5	Declined modestly.
January 2016	0.0	+0.5	Flat in December.
November 2015	0.0	+0.5	Held steady on balance.
October 2015	−0.5	−0.5	Eased slightly.
August 2015	+0.5	0.0	Rose modestly.
July 2015	+0.5	+1.0	Increased modestly.
May 2015	+0.5	0.0	Expanded slightly.
April 2015	0.0	+0.5	Little changed.
February 2015	+0.2	+1.0	Grow slightly.
January 2015	+0.2	+1.0	Grow slightly.
November 2014	+0.2	+0.5	Grew slightly.
October 2014	+0.5	+1.0	Grew modestly.
August 2014	+0.5	+1.0	Grew modestly.
July 2014	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded modestly.
May 2014	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded modestly.
April 2014	+1.0	+1.0	Grew moderately.
February 2014	0.0	+0.5	Remained stable.
January 2014	0.0	+0.5	Held steady.
November 2013	+0.5	+0.5	Grow modestly.
October 2013	+0.5	+1.0	Expanded modestly.
August 2013	+1.0	+0.5	Grew moderately.
July 2013	+0.5	+0.5	Grew modestly.
May 2013	+0.5	+1.0	Grew at a modest pace.
April 2013	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately with stronger expectations.
February 2013	+0.5	+0.5	Showed modest improvement.
January 2013	+0.5	0.0	Expanded modestly.
November 2012	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly.
September 2012	+0.5	−0.5	Slightly slower pace.
August 2012	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to expand at a moderate pace.
July 2012	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
May 2012	+1.0	+0.5	Improved moderately.
April 2012	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded at a faster pace.
February 2012	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
December 2011	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly; spending softened.
November 2011	+1.0	+0.5	Spending strengthened.
October 2011	+0.5	+0.5	Improved slightly.
August 2011	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly.
July 2011	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded at a moderate pace.
May 2011	+1.0	+1.0	Growth remained solid.
April 2011	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded solidly.
February 2011	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded further.
January 2011	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to expand.
November 2010	+1.0	+0.5	Strengthened.
October 2010	+0.5	+0.5	Moderate but uneven growth.
August 2010	+0.5	0.0	Modest growth; energy solid.
July 2010	0.0	+0.5	Generally held steady.
May 2010	+0.5	+1.0	Grew modestly.
April 2010	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
February 2010	+0.5	+0.5	Further signs of modest growth.
January 2010	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded more modestly.
November 2009	+0.5	+0.5	Continued to expand modestly.
October 2009	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded slightly.
August 2009	0.0	+0.5	Generally held steady.
July 2009	0.0	0.0	Further signs of stabilization.
June 2009	−0.5	+0.5	Declined at slower pace; firmer expectations.
April 2009	−1.0	0.0	Declined with tentative signs of stabilization.
February 2009	−2.0	−1.5	Continued to deteriorate; rig counts at five-year lows.
January 2009	−2.0	−1.5	Deteriorated; manufacturing dropped sharply.
November 2008	−1.5	−1.5	Weakened; consumer spending slowed sharply.
October 2008	−1.0	−1.0	Slowed after stronger summer growth.
August 2008	+0.5	+0.5	Improved slightly; manufacturing rebounded.
July 2008	−0.5	0.0	Moderated slightly; energy booming.
June 2008	0.0	+0.5	Modest growth; energy robust.
April 2008	0.0	–	Continued to slow; gains limited to energy and agriculture.
February 2008	0.0	0.0	Growth slowed to a very modest pace; energy solid.
January 2008	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly, some softening.
November 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly, mixed signals.
October 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded at a more modest pace.
August 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded at a moderate pace.
July 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Grew at a moderating pace.
June 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded at a modest pace.
April 2007	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
February 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded at a modest pace.
January 2007	+0.5	+0.5	Slowed to a modest pace.
November 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Moderate expansion.
October 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded moderately, firming.
August 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded modestly.
July 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
June 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Grew moderately.
April 2006	+1.0	+1.0	Grew solidly.
March 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded at a moderate pace.
January 2006	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
November 2005	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded solidly.
October 2005	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded moderately.
August 2005	+0.5	+0.5	Expanded, slightly slower pace.
July 2005	+1.0	+1.0	Solid growth.
June 2005	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
April 2005	+1.5	+1.0	Expanded solidly.
February 2005	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
January 2005	+1.5	+1.0	Expanded solidly.
November 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
October 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to expand.
September 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded moderately.
July 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded at a slightly slower pace.
June 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to expand.
April 2004	+1.5	+1.0	Expanded solidly.
February 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to grow.
January 2004	+1.0	+1.0	Strengthened further.
November 2003	+1.0	+1.0	Expanded further.
October 2003	+1.0	+1.0	Continued to expand.
July 2003	+0.5	+1.0	Improved somewhat.
June 2003	+0.5	+1.0	Improved slightly.
April 2003	−0.5	+0.5	Some signs of weakening.
February 2003	+0.5	+0.5	Some signs of strengthening.
January 2003	−0.5	0.0	Very sluggish.
November 2002	+1.0	+0.5	Some signs of improvement after slowing earlier.
October 2002	0.0	+0.5	Economy slowed somewhat; contacts cautiously optimistic.
September 2002	0.0	+0.5	Growth showed some signs of moderating.
July 2002	+1.0	0.0	Maintained an upward trend.
June 2002	+1.0	+0.5	Continued signs of improvement in May.
April 2002	0.0	+0.5	Still somewhat weak but distinct signs of improvement.
February 2002	−1.0	+0.5	Very sluggish but some small signs of improvement.
January 2002	−1.0	0.0	Economy remained relatively weak.
November 2001	0.0	−0.5	Generally sluggish, though not all signs negative.
October 2001	−1.0	−0.5	Economy weakened; manufacturing slump worsened.
September 2001	0.0	0.0	Fewer signs of slowing.
July 2001	−1.0	−0.5	Weakened further in July.
June 2001	0.0	0.0	Remained somewhat weak.
April 2001	0.0	0.0	Remained sluggish in March.
February 2001	0.0	0.0	Remained sluggish.
January 2001	0.0	0.0	Economy slowed in December.
November 2000	+1.0	–	Solid but signs of slowing.
October 2000	+1.0	–	Expanded modestly.
September 2000	+1.0	–	Remained solid overall.
July 2000	+1.0	–	Grew at a steady pace.
June 2000	0.0	–	Some signs of cooling but generally solid.
April 2000	0.0	+0.5	Economy held steady.
February 2000	+1.0	+0.5	Economic activity remained solid.
January 2000	+1.0	+0.5	Economic activity remained solid.
November 1999	0.0	+0.5	Held steady after earlier weakness.
October 1999	0.0	+0.5	Slowed further, level remains solid.
September 1999	+1.0	+0.5	Growth continued to slow from a high level.
August 1999	+1.0	–	Healthy, but growth continued to slow.
June 1999	+1.0	+0.5	Solid but slowed from rapid growth.
April 1999	+1.0	+0.5	Expanded modestly.
March 1999	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately.
January 1999	+1.0	–	Grew moderately; widespread signs of easing.
November 1998	+1.0	0.0	Grew moderately; signs of easing present.
October 1998	+1.0	−0.5	Grew moderately; signs of easing mounting.
September 1998	+1.0	−0.5	Moderate growth continued.
July 1998	+1.0	+1.0	Grew moderately, no major signs of easing.
June 1998	+1.0	+1.0	Maintained strong momentum; no signs of slowdown.
April 1998	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately.
March 1998	+1.0	+1.0	Continues to grow at a moderate pace.
January 1998	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately; construction slightly slower.
November 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Grew moderately with a few signs of easing.
October 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Grew moderately, with a few signs of easing.
September 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately.
July 1997	+1.0	0.0	Grew moderately, with a few signs of slowing.
June 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately.
April 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately.
March 1997	+1.0	+0.5	Continued to grow moderately; energy improved.
January 1997	+1.0	0.0	Grew moderately, with a few signs of slowing.