AP Economic Stress Index shows the 20 most-stressed counties

October 5th, 2009 AP analysis: Signs of recovery in some US areasWASHINGTON — Signs of a slow and fitful recovery emerged in August in some communities across the country where unemployment dropped and foreclosures stabilized, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. The average county stress score fell slightly, and fewer counties qualified as economically distressed.

October 3rd, 2009 How AP measured the meltdown at the local levelThe Associated Press Economic Stress Index combines three economic indicators — unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcy — as a way of gauging how the recession has affected each of America's 3,141 counties. That measurement is expressed on a scale of 0 to 100.

September 30th, 2009 Index shows home prices increase from June to JulyNEW YORK — A closely watched index of home prices shows year-over-year improvement for the sixth month in a row and prices in all 20 cities rose from June to July. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities released Tuesday rose 1.2 percent from June.

September 7th, 2009 AP analysis: Auto industry gains boost some areasSigns of life in the auto industry and an easing of the housing crisis helped reduce unemployment and kept foreclosures flat in some of the nation's hardest-hit areas in July, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. The latest results of the AP's Economic Stress Index showed joblessness dipped in counties where temporarily closed auto-related plants resumed production in July.

August 3rd, 2009 AP analysis: Foreclosures stabilize in key statesEven as Americans suffer rising unemployment, foreclosure rates in three states hit hardest by the housing bust — California, Arizona and Florida — stabilized in June, offering hope that the worst of the real estate crisis is over, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. The latest results of AP's Economic Stress Index show foreclosure and bankruptcy rates held steady from May in some states.

July 6th, 2009 AP analysis: Economic stress up in much of nationCalifornia, Michigan and South Carolina suffered the most financial pain in May as unemployment, home foreclosures and bankruptcies rose, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. The latest results of the AP's Economic Stress Index show the worst financial crisis since the 1930s causing lingering damage even as other signs suggest the recession is winding down.

June 30th, 2009 Home prices post 18.1 percent annual drop in AprilNEW YORK — A key housing index shows a clear trend that home price declines are moderating. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index released Tuesday showed home prices in 20 major cities tumbled by 18.1 percent from April 2008.

June 14th, 2009 A look at the hardest hit countiesThe AP Economic Stress Index uses unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure rates from each U.S. county to calculate the recession's impact on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the worst-case scenario.

June 8th, 2009 AP analysis: recession' grip eases in AprilThe economy's tailspin gave way to a more controlled descent in the spring, according to The Associated Press' monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. Still, troubles persist in California related to the housing bust and in the Midwest, pounded by manufacturing layoffs.

June 8th, 2009 AP analysis shows recession's impact moderatingThe recession's grip loosened slightly this spring as seasonal hiring picked up and helped offset rising bankruptcies and foreclosures, according to the Associated Press' monthly analysis of the economic pain in more than 3,100 U.S. counties. The latest results of the AP's Economic Stress Index show the free fall that marked the autumn of 2008 and winter of 2009 gave way in April to a more controlled descent, possibly even a bottom.

June 7th, 2009 Government jobs' recession shield at workAn AP analysis of economic data from around the country shows that economic pain in a county decreases as the percentage of government workers in its work force rises. Facts and figures about some of the counties around the country enjoying relative prosperity because of heavy concentrations of government jobs: Leon County, Fla.

June 3rd, 2009 Recession adds woes for struggling Pa. businessesThe recession is sapping the life out of many businesses, from a big-box electronic retail chain to dozens of mom-and-pop stores.

May 9th, 2009 Stocks rise on better-than-expected jobs dataNEW YORK — Stocks soared Friday as Wall Street cheered the positive news it had been hoping for: Job losses slowed in April and big banks don't need as much capital as some had feared. All the major indicators rose more than 1 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which jumped 165 points.

May 5th, 2009 Stocks mixed after prior day's big gainsNEW YORK — Caution returned to Wall Street Tuesday ahead of results of the government's stress tests of banks. Stocks were narrowly mixed in early trading following a big advance Monday that sent one key Wall Street indicator, the Standard & Poor's 500 index, into positive territory for the year and the Dow Jones industrials up more than 200 points.

February 16th, 2009 LONDON - Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan, who has been in the news for her matchstick frame, has blamed her stressed-out life for her physique. The actress' super slim image has been raising eyebrows of late in gossip columns and on blogs but the 22-year-old insists there's nothing to worry about, reports contactmusic.com.