LAS VEGAS -- Either southern Nevada’s economic woes are fading, or other parts of the country are seeing theirs worsen.

That’s the conclusion one can draw from October’s Associated Press Economic Stress Index, which showed Clark County improve from No. 4 to No. 7 on the list of most stressed counties.

Nye County also fell from No. 5 to No. 9 on the list, while Lyon County held at No. 3.

Western states made up the entire top 10 on the AP Stress Index, with Imperial County, Calif. again taking the No. 1 spot. California has six counties listed in the top 10, while Yuma County, Ariz., is also listed at No. 2.

The improvement in southern Nevada could be contributed to last month’s unemployment report, which showed the jobless rate in Las Vegas dropped slightly from 13.9 percent in September to 13 percent in October.

Tourism officials are hoping to end what has been a dismal year on a positive note, with a number of high-profile events scheduled in December.

Video: ‘December To Remember’ In Las Vegas

Among them, the just-wrapped NASCAR Champions Week, National Finals Rodeo, the opening of CityCenter and New Year’s Eve festivities.