Iowa Boasts the Lowest Cost of Doing Business

Iowa 4th in CNBC business climate ranking

Iowa has moved from 9th to 4th position in CNBC’s annual ranking of best states for doing business.  “Iowa boasts the lowest cost of doing business in the country,” CNBC said in announcing the ranking.

The cable news channel noted that Iowa’s “mostly agricultural” economy surged in comparison to the larger nation’s economic meltdown. It said unemployment in Iowa, at 5.8 percent, remains below the national average, and foreclosures, while up, are far below the national rate.

Iowa scored worst in the areas of access to capital (34th) transportation and infrastructure (31st) and technology and innovation (24th).  Iowa performed best in the areas of business costs (first) economic strength (fourth) education (14th) and cost of living (14th).