North Dakota least economicially stressed state

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(AP) — The nation’s economic stress fell in September to a 16-month low, thanks to more hiring in New England, fewer foreclosures in the mid-Atlantic and declining bankruptcy filings in the Southeast, according to The Associated Press’ monthly analysis of conditions around the country.

Counties with high concentrations of farming, mining, information technology and professional jobs suffered less hardship in September. By contrast, those with heavy proportions of workers in retail and real estate endured more stress.

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

Eighty percent of the nation’s 3,141 counties enjoyed some month-over-month easing of economic pain, the AP’s Economic Stress Index shows. So did all but six states: Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska and Nevada.

The average county’s Stress score in September was 10, down from 10.3 in August. The last time the average was that low was in May 2009. Just over one-third of counties were deemed stressed in September, down from 40 percent in August.

North Dakota remained the economically healthiest state with a score of 3.75. Next came South Dakota (4.78), Nebraska (5.73) and Vermont (5.89). New Hampshire leapfrogged over Wyoming for the No. 5 spot with a score of 6.79.

The most-stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 were Imperial County, Calif. (34.04); Yuma County, Ariz. (29.22); Lyon County, Nev. (26.21); Nye County, Nev. (25.56); and Yuba County, Calif. (24.33).

The least-stressed were Ward County (2.95); Burleigh County (3.52); Brown County, S.D. (3.78); Brookings County, S.D. (3.86); and Sioux County, Iowa (4.04).

Tags: news, economy, stress