The Associated Press’ monthly analysis of economic stress in more than 3,100 U.S. counties found the economy little changed in October compared with September. Some states saw slight improvement or stabilization, thanks to steadying foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. But the gains may be brief. Unemployment remains high, and the housing market is still weak.

“We’re not out of the woods,” said Susan Wachter, a professor of real estate and finance at the University of Pennsylvania.

The AP’s Economic Stress Index calculates a score from 1 to 100 based on a county’s unemployment, foreclosure and bankruptcy rates. Under a rough rule of thumb, a county is considered stressed when its score exceeds 11.

Nationwide, the average county’s Stress score remained unchanged at 10.1 in October, matching September’s figure. It was 10.3 in August. A year earlier, in October 2008, the average score was a much lower 6.9.

About 37 percent of the nation’s 3,141 counties were deemed stressed, roughly the same proportion as the previous month.

Nevada, where the real estate collapse struck especially hard, again had the highest statewide Stress score in October, at 21.09, though it declined from 21.95 in September.

Michigan, battered by auto industry troubles, was second-highest, with a score of 17.36, followed by California (16.48), Florida (15.4) and Arizona (14.37). All four states have suffered severe housing downturns.

North Dakota was again the least-stressed state with a score of 3.89. It was followed by South Dakota (5.14), Nebraska (5.51), Vermont (6.43) and Montana (6.64).

Statewide foreclosure rates dipped even in some hard-hit states such as California, Georgia and Nevada. The housing market’s deterioration appears to have bottomed, aided by government supports such as a homebuyer tax credit and the Obama administration’s foreclosure prevention plan, Wachter said.

But two risks could hamper the housing industry’s recovery next year: Rising unemployment and defaults on payment-option adjustable-rate mortgages. Job losses have become a leading cause of foreclosures.

And because super-low interest rates are propping up real estate, an eventual rise in rates could cause another housing downturn, Wachter said.

Three Nevada counties — Lyon, Clark and Nye — again led the nation in foreclosures in October, with rates ranging from 7.1 percent to 8.5 percent.

Nevada suffered the biggest year-to-year gain in foreclosures. And it continued to lead the nation with a 7.2 percent foreclosure rate. But new state legislation allowing for mediation before banks can seize a property may slow Nevada’s foreclosure pace.

Some counties with high foreclosure rates — such as Osceola in Florida, San Joaquin in California and Henry in Georgia — saw month-to-month declines in October. Those areas had been among the first to be hit by the housing bust, and the worst may be over.

But the slower pace of foreclosures may also result from a backlog in servicing foreclosures and pressures on lenders to keep further foreclosures off their books and to mediate loans, said Rick Sharga of RealtyTrac, which provides foreclosure data for the AP Stress Index.

A 60-vehicle convoy escorted the bodies of journalists Marife Montano, Gina dela Cruz, Marites Cablitas, Leah Dalmacio, Ian Subang, Russel Morales, Ronnie Perante, and Robillo Bataluna to their resting place at Forest Lake Cemetery here.

“It’s so painful. I went to the site a day after they were murdered,” Elliver Cablitas, husband of Marites Cablitas, 38, who was publisher of local community paper New Focus.

“We demand justice for their deaths,” he added.

The burial was held a day after Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived here to pay her respects and vowed that justice will be served to the victims of the massacre.

“Canada strongly condemns the attack. Violence toward civilians and government officials will not bring peace to Somalia, ” Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement.

As those killed include students graduating from medical school, journalists and government ministers responsible for education and health, this attack shows that those responsible are more concerned with their narrow agenda than with the well-being of the Somali people, the statement said.

“Canada encourages all parties in Somalia, including the government and armed opposition groups, to work together to promote peace and reconciliation,” Cannon said in the statement.

A man dressed in a black burqa blew himself up at a graduation ceremony of doctors in the Somali capital of Mogadishu earlier on Thursday, killing 19 people, including parents, students and three government ministers.

Directed by Jason Reitman (”Juno,” “Thank You for Smoking”), the film stars George Clooney as a perpetually traveling contractor who fires people for a living. The National Board of Review, which announced its awards Thursday, also chose Clooney as best actor, an honor he shares with Morgan Freeman who plays Nelson Mandela in “Invictus.”

“Up in the Air” also won best supporting actress for Anna Kendrick and best adapted screenplay, penned by Reitman and Sheldon Turner working from Walter Kirn’s book of the same name.

Already an Oscar favorite, the win boosts the awards prospects of “Up in the Air,” which opens Friday. The last two NBR winners — “No Country for Old Men” and “Slumdog Millionaire” — have gone on to win best picture at the Academy Awards.

“I’m simply overwhelmed with gratitude for the many honors the National Board of Review has bestowed upon `Up in the Air,’” Reitman said in a statement. “I’m thrilled for George, I’m thrilled for Anna, and of course most thrilled for my father.”

Reitman’s father, Ivan Reitman, is the famous director of “Ghostbusters,” “Stripes” and other films. He’s also a producer of “Up in the Air.”

Added Reitman: “The day before your movie comes out is usually one of anxiety and anticipation. I’d like to thank the NBR for making today perfect.”

Best director went to Clint Eastwood for “Invictus,” the story of Mandela’s embrace of the South African national rugby team.

Carey Mulligan was chosen best actress for her lead performance in “An Education,” a coming-of-age story set in 1960s London. Woody Harrelson won best supporting actor for “The Messenger.” In the film, the actor plays Captain Tony Stone, who is tasked to inform the families of fallen soldiers.

Best animated film went to Pixar’s “Up,” an adventure about an elderly man who has always yearned for adventure and finds it when he flies away in his house with a boy who has stowed away. “The Cove,” about the slaughter of dolphins in a Japanese village, won best documentary. The prison drama “A Prophet” won best foreign film.

They still had $449 billion in wealth to draw on, according to a report published Friday.

The Swiss business magazine Bilanz said the losses were much less severe than in 2008, when world markets were hard hit by financial instability.

Low, lump-sum tax rates in Switzerland helped many of the ultra-rich, who also benefited as economic conditions stabilized.

Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad was the richest person in Switzerland for the eighth straight year, with an estimated wealth of $35-36 billion, Bilanz said. It provided the same range as last year for the founder of the Swedish maker of affordable furniture.

The Hoffmann and Oeri families ranked second, with a combined wealth of $15-16 billion from their stake in drug maker Roche Holding AG. That’s $1 billion less than 2008.

They were followed by the Brenninkmeijer family, who founded textile company C&A, and Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli, who sold the biotech company Serono to Merck KGaA three years ago. Estimates put both their fortunes at $10-11 billion.

Russian tycoon Viktor Vekselberg rounded out the top 5 with a fortune of $8-9 billion.

Vekselberg and the Latsis shipping family both lost $3 billion from 2008.

Formula-1 chief Bernie Ecclestone lost a third of his wealth in a divorce settlement, and now has $3-4 billion, according to Bilanz.

The Fiesta, powered by a 119 horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, is expected to get at least 30 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway when paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission. A five-speed manual also is available.

The car will come in four-door and hatchback models, weigh about 2,600 pounds, and compete mainly against the Toyota Yaris and Honda’s Fit.

Knowing that Americans are concerned about safety of smaller cars, Ford says it has installed features such as standard electronic stability control and front, knee, side and head-protecting air bags. The Fiesta also has high-strength steel in key impact-absorbing areas.

Ford engineers also tried to keep the car quiet, with hood sound insulation and aerodynamic design that reduces wind noise.

During previews of the Fiesta last month in Dearborn, engineers and designers explained how they changed the European Fiesta as little as possible, keeping its sleek looks, crisp handling and speedy performance.

U.S. automakers have been criticized for taking highly acclaimed European cars and giving them a soft ride to match American tastes. Ford already has sold more than 500,000 Fiestas since the car was launched last fall in Europe and Asia.

“We haven’t dumbed it down,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s global product development chief, adding that North American versions share 60 percent of European Fiesta’s parts largely because it had to be changed to meet U.S. safety standards.

Sharing parts with global versions will improve quality and reduce costs, Kuzak said. Pricing for the car, to be built in Cuautitlan, Mexico, has not yet been released. The 2011 model Fiestas will appear in U.S. showrooms by summer.

Ford had to lengthen the front bumper to meet U.S. safety requirements, and it also had to move the lower part of the dashboard rearward to slow unbelted occupants in a collision.

Also inside the car, it added adjustable cupholders that can grip anything from a thin energy drink can to a 7-Eleven Big Gulp cup.

Erich Merkle, president of the auto industry consulting firm autoconomy.com in Grand Rapids, Mich., said the Fiesta is a lot of car for the money, with styling and features not found in competitors.

The car should successfully attract younger buyers who don’t have a lot of money yet want their cars to stand out, Merkle said.