Economic stress on the rise in the Capital Region

Economic stress continued to increase in the Capital Region, with St. Helena, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana and Livingston parishes having rankings that were higher than the national average. The Associated Press’ Stress index calculates a score from 1 to 100 based on unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates; a higher score signifies more economic stress. Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11. By that standard, about a quarter of the nation’s 3,141 counties were stressed in May, roughly the same as in April. St. Helena had a score of 13.59, the highest in the metro area. The parish has an unemployment rate of 13.4%, which was a significant factor in the ranking. Iberville also fell under the stressed category, with a score of 12.2. The average county Stress score nationwide in May was 9.7, the lowest average since April 2009. Along with St. Helena and Iberville, area parishes above the national average were West Feliciana (10.6), Pointe Coupee (10.19) and Livingston (9.9). Ascension had the lowest score in the region at 8.9, while East Baton Rouge had a score of 9.53. The Louisiana average was 9.63. To see an interactive map, click here.