AP Economic Stress Index

The Associated Press Economic Stress Index provides " monthly, multi-format updates on the economic stress of the United States down to the county level." The index uses three economic variables: the rates of unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcy. The result is "a score on a scale of 0-100 that measures how the recession is affecting a county compared to all others." The index number increases as economic conditions worsen (and thus stress rises). Improving conditions lower the index.