AP Says Economic Stress Up in December

New York, NY, Feb. 8, 2011 -- Economic stress rose in December because higher foreclosures outweighed lower unemployment, The Associated Press said in its monthly analysis.

Bankruptcy levels remained largely unchanged from November. But the depressed housing market took a toll. Foreclosure rates rose in 33 states.

AP said that a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11.

The average county's score in December was 10.4, up from 10.3 in November. Slightly more than 40 percent of the nation's 3,141 counties were deemed stressed, up slightly from November.