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recting the Department of Public Safety to implement an emergency rule allowing the sale of 85-octane gasoline with mandatory cautionary labels while permanent rules are debated and adopted.
• The emergency rules will require South Dakota retailers who choose to sell 85-octane gas to label their fuel pumps to caution consumers to check their vehicle owner's manuals to determine what grade of motor fuel is appropriate.
• Octane is a measure of fuel performance, with a higher octane level indicates better performance. Many manufacturers recommend a minimum of 87 octane fuel.
•

• OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Economic growth has continued to slow in rural areas of

10 Midwestern and Western states because of the problems in Europe and elsewhere, according to a report released Thursday.
• The overall index on the monthly survey of bankers declined to 56.7 in June, from May's 58.5. That's the lowest level for the index in 2012, but any score above 50 still suggests growth in the months ahead.
• "International economic problems are affecting us here," said Dale Bradley, CEO of Citizens State Bank in Miltonvale, Kan.
• The survey covers rural areas of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
• Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, said the results suggest that areas dependent on agriculture and energy will generally continue growing, but at a slower rate.
• Goss said the global economic slowdown, combined with a stronger U.S. dollar, have pushed agriculture and energy prices lower and hurt exports.
• The farmland price index remained at a strong level of 60 in June, but that was down from 64.6 in May. The farm-equipment sales index also declined to 54.7 in June, from last month's 65.1.
• The loan volume index jumped to 64.2 in June, from May's 56.9, as farmers sought more loans.
• "As farmland prices and farm-equipment sales have risen, so have farmers' financing demands," Goss said.
• The checking deposit index sank to 55.3 in June, from May's 62.9. The index for savings instruments dipped to 38.9 in June, from May's 41.7.
• The hiring index remained at strong at 59.1 in June, which was slightly below May's 59.2. Goss said job growth varies widely across the region.

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