Economic Stress Increased in June

New York, NY, Aug. 2, 2010--Economic stress worsened in June, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of conditions around the country.

The setback halted a drop in month-to-month stress readings that had begun in February. In May, economic stress had declined from the previous month in 33 states. And in April, stress fell in every state but two.

More than two-thirds of the nation's 3,141 counties, and 37 of 50 states, endured more hardship in June than in May, the AP's Economic Stress Index shows.

Unemployment rates fell in most states in June, but it was mainly because more people gave up searching for work and were no longer counted in the labor force, AP said.