2026

Missouri River Runoff Forecast

The Missouri River Runoff Forecast shows runoff returning to more normal levels after the below-average 2025

For the 2025 calendar year, Missouri River basin runoff above Sioux City, Iowa, totaled 19.9 million acre-feet, 78% of average. For 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa, to be near-average at 24.5 MAF, 96% of average.

The 2026 forecast is based on current runoff trends, soil moisture conditions, generally below-average plains snowpack and near-average mountain snowpack. At the start of the 2026 runoff season, which typically begins around March 1, the total volume of water stored in the Missouri River Mainstem reservoir system is expected to be 49.0 MAF, 7.1 MAF below the top of the carryover multiple-use zone. The System is designed to use the water contained within the carryover multiple use zone to support the eight Congressionally authorized purposes during extended droughts. Those purposes are flood control, navigation, water supply, irrigation, hydropower, recreation, water quality control, and fish and wildlife.

Tim Phillips Jan 10, 2026

Gianforte Announces Homeowners Can Apply for 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate

Governor Greg Gianforte Thursday announced that Montana homeowners can now apply for the 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate, delivering on his commitment to provide permanent and meaningful property tax relief for Montanans.

“Recognizing the burden of rising property taxes, we worked with the Legislature to deliver permanent and meaningful property tax relief,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Thanks to our reforms, 80% of Montana homeowners saw lower property taxes last year. While those who claimed a property tax rebate are already enrolled for the lower rate this year, homeowners can verify their status or claim the lower rate by visiting Homestead.MT.gov.”

Largely a function of local jurisdictions, property taxes fund local government services, with approximately 80 percent of property tax revenue from residential homeowners going directly to local jurisdictions and the remaining 20 percent going to the State of Montana which returns the amount in full to help fund K-12 public schools throughout the state.

Beginning December 1, 2025, Montana homeowners became eligible to apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate for the 2026 tax year. To qualify, applicants must attest that they will own and live in their Montana home as their principal residence for at least seven months during 2026. When applying, homeowners will need to provide the property’s physical address, geocode, and the names and Social Security numbers of the property owners.

House Bill 231, carried by Representative Llew Jones, R-Conrad, established the Homestead Rate, which takes effect this year. The Homestead Rate is a new, lower property tax rate for long-term rentals and primary residences, the places Montanans call home.

Properties that qualified for and received the 2025 property tax rebate will automatically qualify for the 2026 Homestead Reduced Rate if ownership has not changed and the property continues to be used as the primary residence. Additionally, the application period for the Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate is now open. To qualify, properties must be rented to tenants as their residence for periods of 28 days or longer for at least seven months of the year. Applicants will need to provide the property’s physical address, geocode, owner information, and details on rental income and expenses.

In November, Gov. Gianforte announced that nearly 80% of homes will see a tax cut from the reforms, with about 10% seeing property taxes remain flat. The average savings for homeowners who saw a tax cut was more than $500, not including the up to $400 property tax rebate available to eligible homeowners.

Senate Bill 542, carried by Senator Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, establishes new, tiered tax rates to deliver property tax relief for Montanans for their homes, small businesses, farms, and ranches in 2025 and provided a property tax rebate for Montanans for their primary residence. Eligible Montana homeowners could claim a rebate up to $400 last year for property taxes paid in 2024.

Last year, more than 235,000 Montana homeowners claimed and received a property tax rebate. Montana homeowners who claimed and received a property tax rebate in 2025 may be automatically enrolled in the Homestead Rate for 2026, provided the homeowner did not move or change ownership in 2025.

Montanans can verify enrollment or apply for the Homestead Reduced Rate and Long-Term Rental Reduced Rate by visiting homestead.mt.gov.

Stan Ozark Jan 9, 2026

In 2025, U.S. retail gasoline prices decreased for third consecutive year

From Energy Information Administration:

The U.S. retail price for regular grade gasoline averaged $3.10 per gallon (gal) in 2025, $0.21/gal less than in 2024. This year marks the third consecutive year of declining nominal retail gasoline prices, according to data from our Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update.

Crude oil prices are the largest component of U.S. gasoline prices. U.S. gasoline prices fell in 2025 because of lower crude oil prices, which were driven by oversupply concerns and a weaker global economic outlook in the first half of the year that dampened demand.

U.S. retail gasoline prices have fallen every year since 2022, when prices spiked to their highest since 2014 when adjusted for inflation after petroleum product prices increased sharply following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The retail gasoline price was highest in 2025 in early April when it reached $3.24/gal, still less than 2024’s high price of $3.67/gal, also reached in April. Similar to 2024, the 2025 high price preceded the summer driving season, which is when gasoline use peaks in the United States and often sets the highest prices of the year. Summer prices were relatively lower for gasoline and other petroleum products because of lower crude oil prices through the second half of the year. Retail gasoline prices decreased to an annual low of $2.81/gal in late December, as low crude oil prices combined with declining crack spreads at the end of November.

U.S. gasoline consumption in 2025 decreased on an annual average basis by less than 1% from 2024. Despite slightly lower consumption, a small increase in net exports in 2025 contributed to similar inventory levels as 2024. In 2025, Memorial Day gasoline prices, which signal the start of the summer driving season, were their lowest since 2020, when adjusted for inflation.

After the 2025 summer season, tightness in the global refining sector caused gasoline prices to increase just above their 2024 levels for September—the first month in which that happened this year. This relative tightness persisted through October and November, as higher refining margins led to gasoline prices that were about equal to 2024 prices going into Thanksgiving.

U.S. gasoline prices vary regionally, reflecting local supply and demand conditions and differences in state fuel specifications and taxes. The annual average retail price for regular grade gasoline in 2025 ranged from a low of $2.39/gal on the Gulf Coast to a high of $4.32/gal on the West Coast.

Stan Ozark Jan 9, 2026

Valley County Unemployment Rate 2.9%

Governor Greg Gianforte Wednesday announced Montana’s unemployment rate rose to 3.3 percent in November, continuing the record of over four consecutive years of unemployment at or below 3.4 percent.

Montana’s unemployment rate was 1.3 percent lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.6 percent in November. Montana remained in the top ten states in the nation with the lowest unemployment rates.

Montana’s labor force added approximately 2,200 workers over the last two months ending in November, while total employment (which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers) increased by nearly 800, generating an increase in the unemployment rate. Payroll jobs grew over the last two months, with gains in administrative services and transportation offsetting declines in government and healthcare employment. October 2025 unemployment data are unavailable due to the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis over the two months from September to November 2025. Over the last twelve months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. Core inflation, or the index for all items less food and energy, rose 2.6 percent over the last 12-months. The energy index increased 4.2 percent for the 12 months ending November. The food index increased 2.6 percent over the last year.

The unemployment rate in Valley County was 2.9% which is higher than one year ago when it was 2.2%. The labor force in Valley County is 3539 which is down 34 from last year at this time.

Stan Ozark Jan 9, 2026