AP Says Economic Stress at 18-Month Low

Washington, DC, Dec. 13, 2010 -- Economic stress in the U.S. in October hit an 18-month low, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis.

Stress fell in 56 percent of the roughly 3,100 U.S. counties analyzed and in 28 of the states, the AP's Economic Stress Index shows.

The AP's index calculates a score from 1 to 100 based on unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. A higher score signals more economic stress. Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11.

The healthiest states were in the Great Plains and New England. Once again, North Dakota (3.5) was best. It was followed by South Dakota (4.86), Nebraska (5.44), Vermont (5.69) and New Hampshire (6.72).