The CredAbility Consumer Distress Index measures the financial health of U.S. households on a 100-point scale, with scores of 70 or below indicating distress. The average U.S. consumer has been in financial distress since 2008, despite two years of economic growth, as employment remains at crisis levels in many states and household budgets are declining. Michigan has suffered the highest distress for two consecutive quarters, while states like North Dakota and South Dakota have experienced less financial hardship.

1. CredAbility Consumer Distress Index Q4 2010 February 16, 2011

6. 10 states with the greatest financial distress For the second straight quarter, Michigan has suffered the highest level of financial distress. The nation’s 10 most financially distressed states, which include California , Florida , Georgia and Indiana , account for nearly one-third of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Q4 2010 Q3 2010 Q2 2010 Q1 2010 Q4 2009 National 64.32% 64.40% 65.23% 65.04% 63.96% Michigan 58.83% 58.11% 61.01% 60.69% 60.47% Mississippi 59.24% 58.76% 60.62% 60.57% 60.69% Nevada 59.27% 60.71% 59.23% 59.16% 59.56% Alabama 60.03% 60.23% 61.89% 61.60% 61.46% Florida 60.21% 60.81% 61.01% 60.70% 60.48% South Carolina 60.56% 60.10% 61.29% 60.63% 60.09% Indiana 61.16% 60.68% 62.61% 62.27% 61.74% Georgia 61.26% 61.24% 61.37% 61.24% 61.13% North Carolina 61.38% 61.66% 62.28% 62.11% 61.53% California 61.39% 61.31% 61.71% 61.36% 61.29%

7. 10 states with the least financial distress While the average American in 43 states is in distress or crisis, seven—led by North Dakota and South Dakota —scored above the distress threshold of 70 points on the CredAbility index. Seven more states and the District of Columbia are within two points of moving out of financial distress. Q4 2010 Q3 2010 Q2 2010 Q1 2010 Q4 2009 National 64.32% 64.40% 65.23% 65.04% 63.96% Montana 69.20% 69.28% 69.51% 69.99% 69.75% District of Columbia 69.31% 68.55% 64.64% 66.07% 65.72% Minnesota 69.38% 69.30% 69.75% 69.01% 68.14% Massachusetts 69.58% 68.96% 68.37% 68.18% 68.08% Iowa 70.05% 69.91% 71.40% 70.97% 69.98% Vermont 71.32% 70.88% 72.05% 71.63% 71.07% New Hampshire 73.30% 72.77% 70.64% 69.26% 69.07% Wyoming 74.09% 72.54% 72.80% 72.83% 72.76% Nebraska 74.84% 74.87% 76.09% 75.47% 74.20% South Dakota 76.94% 76.19% 77.43% 77.21% 75.62% North Dakota 79.35% 79.45% 78.95% 78.89% 79.25%