As Some Avoid Foreclosure, Nevada and Others Seeing igh stress

The Economic Stress Index shows that Nevada is facing the highest strain in the country among its counties.

While trying to avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy, many states in the country are feeling stress.

According to the Associated Press' Economic Stress Index, Nevada, California and Arizona were among the top-five states in May that saw counties feeling the brunt of high unemployment, bankruptcy and foreclosure rates.

Nevada came in first, with a stress reading of 21.75, while California was third, at 16.14, and Arizona placed fifth with a mark of 15.04. The AP considers an area stressed if it has a reading above 11.

It may be no surprise that these states are still feeling the stress from the economic downturn, as they were also among the top parts of the country to be facing increasing foreclosures. Nevada has had the top rate of home loans in trouble for some time now, according to RealtyTrac.com.

Nationally, things improved a bit, according to the index. The country as a whole recorded a stress reading of 10.3, down from the 10.6 mark seen in April