AP analysis: US Economic Stress Hit a Peak in Dec.

By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 02/08/2010 06:35 AM

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).