Bits & Pieces
Bite-sized morsels from the business beat.
Economist: Iowa Enters “R” Stage
There’s no need for Iowans to worry about the state soon sliding into an economic recession. We’re already there, according to one noted economist.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, says Iowa is among 22 states, along with the District of Columbia, now plagued by ongoing economic weakness and job losses. In other words, these places are experiencing a recession.
Zandi, in an interview with MarketWatch, said common threads for these states are soft farm economies or sputtering light manufacturing.
Hy-Vee Buys 2 Wisconsin Stores
West Des Moines-based grocer Hy-Vee acquired the Country Market grocery store and an adjacent Circle K convenience store in Wausau, Wis., according to the Supermarket News website.
The website said County Market will close Nov. 11 and reopen Nov. 18 as the Wausau Hy-Vee store. The Circle K will be rebranded as a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh convenience store.
All County Market employees will be offered jobs with Hy-Vee, the report said.
Hair-Raising Halloween Spending
The National Retail Federation forecasts Halloween spending will reach a record $13.1 billion this year. That will surpass last year’s spending of $11.6 billion and the 2023 record of $12.2 billion.
“Even with concerns about price increases due to tariffs, Halloween continues to resonate with consumers of all ages,” said Katherine Cullen, NRF vice president of industry and consumer insights.
“Whether it’s dressing in costume or carving a pumpkin, more consumers plan to take part in Halloween activities and traditions. Retailers are prepared to ensure the shopping experience is a treat for consumers this Halloween season,” she said.
Prepare for Higher Turkey Prices
But enough about Halloween. Let’s move on to Thanksgiving and some news that could cause consumer indigestion: turkey prices will rise this year as a result of economic causes and bird diseases, according to the American Farm Bureau.
Bernt Nelson, Farm Bureau economist, reported that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was again being detected in turkey flocks in the Upper Midwest. Also, Avian Metapneumovirus remains a problem at turkey farms.
These fall disease pressures are reflected in the total U.S. turkey flock numbers, Nelson wrote. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows 195 million turkeys were raised in 2025. That’s down 3 percent from 2024 and far below a peak of about 303 million in 1996, Nelson reported.
E-Cultivating Tractor Hits Fields
Tilmor of Dalton, Ohio, says it has launched the Super E — an electric cultivating tractor built to improve efficiency in planting, weeding, and fertilizing.
Farmers tested prototypes of the machines during the 2025 growing season and were impressed by their quiet operation, ease of use and clear visibility of tooling under the belly for more accurate cultivation, Tilmor said.
The Super E features a 48-volt electric system, an expandable battery platform that powers up to eight hours of runtime with four batteries, and 22 inches of ground clearance.
Pricing starts at $19,500 and the machines can be ordered on the company website.
Itty-Bitty Bits
Casey’s General Stores of Ankeny has appointed Eric Long vice president of proprietary brands, C-Store Dive reports. Long will manage Casey’s private brands program, which includes hundreds of products such as chips, cookies,
soda and energy drinks, the report said.
Tesla unveiled cheaper alternatives of its Model Y and Model 3 cars. The company listed prices of Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard cars at $37,990 and $34,990. Both are below Premium version prices of $44,490 and $41,990. The carmaker hopes the new models will help juice up sales after the recent expiration of a federal tax credit for the purchase of electric cars.
“Charming” Iowa City made Forbes magazine’s list of the 25 best places for retirement in 2025. Iowa City joined some pretty heady company in the list, which includes: Austin, Texas; Boston; Boulder, Colo.; New York City; Portland, Maine; and San Francisco. Forbes said Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, checked the “passion” boxes of “great for arts/culture and lifelong learning.”
This column is part of a fast-growing collection of reporting and writing from Iowa writers. Check out their work at the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
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