Stress Map

Weakness in Western energy-producing states helped raise the
average U.S. county's economic stress in December to its highest
point since the recession began in December 2007.

The Associated Press' monthly analysis of conditions says
Alaska, Wyoming and Montana lost jobs related in part to a drop in
energy and mining exploration. Those states in the past had
generally defied the national economy's weakness.
The AP's Economic Stress Index found that the average county's
score in December was 10.8, compared with 10.2 in November.
Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed
when its score exceeds 11.

North Dakota (4.99) was again the least-stressed state in
December. Next were South Dakota (5.47) and Nebraska (5.63).

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)