Series to examine stress in Yuma County

In June, Yuma County's stress index was 28.37 percent, among the worst in the nation., according to an Associated Press study.

In October 2007, that number was 14.94.

Among counties with more than 25,000 residents, only one county fared worse: Imperial County, Calif., our neighbor to the west, with a stress index of 31.68.

The stress index was derived after experts studied unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates for each county.

At the time of the study, Yuma County's unemployment rate was 26.4 percent, foreclosure rates were at 1.71 percent, with bankruptcy at .99 percent.

In October of 2007, in comparison, Yuma County's unemployment rate was 14.4 percent, foreclosure rates were at .36 percent, with bankruptcy at .28 percent.

The Yuma Sun talked to a series of businesses and organizations in town, to see how those numbers translate to different sectors of our economy.

How does business compare today vs. five years ago?

Is revenue up or down? Are businesses forced to trim employees, or have they been able to maintain jobs while making cuts elsewhere?

What do area businesses and organizations expect to see in Yuma County's future?

Find out in the series, Yuma Under Stress, which starts in the Yuma Sun on Sunday.

Here is the link to the stress index online: http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_national/stress_index/index.html?SITE=AZYUMA&SECTION=HOME