The nation's economic stress inched up in December because higher foreclosures outweighed lower unemployment, according to a monthly analysis by The Associated Press.

For all of 2010, economic stress as measured by a host of factors eased in every state but five, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Georgia and Nevada. Stress fell most sharply in the Great Lakes states and the Southern states of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Those states have large manufacturing bases, and the AP analysis showed that stress dropped most in counties with large proportions of workers in manufacturing, a sector that has increased hiring.

Most analysts expect the economy to gain momentum this year, in part because of a tax-cut package that lowers workers' Social Security taxes and puts more money in their paychecks.

The AP Economic Stress Index showed that in December bankruptcy levels remained largely unchanged from November. But the depressed housing market took a toll. Foreclosure rates rose in 33 states, most sharply in Utah,New Jersey, Nevada and Arizona.

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

The average county's score in December was 10.4, up from 10.3 in November. Slightly more than 40 percent of the nation's 3,141 counties were deemed stressed, up slightly from November. For 2010, the sharpest increases in economic stress occurred in counties with heavy concentrations of real estate workers.

Nevada was again by far the most troubled state, clocking a stress score of 22.56. It was followed by Florida (16.47), California (16.36), Georgia (14.5) and Arizona (14.46). Among those five, only Nevada's Stress score rose from November to December.

And once again, the healthiest states were in the Plains and New England. North Dakota had the lowest stress score in December at 4.65. It was followed by Nebraska, South Dakota, Vermont and New Hampshire.

In December, stress increased the most in the West. That was due primarily to worsening bankruptcies and foreclosures. Foreclosures in the nation's hardest hit communities in California and Florida have dipped in recent months. But they've risen in areas such as Seattle; Albuquerque, N.M.; Greeley, Colo.; and Salt Lake City. The housing market's bust came later to most of Utah than the rest of the nation, so its recovery has lagged, as well.