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All posts for the day August 10th, 2013
There is no place safe from allergies in America, and some cities are more troublesome than others.
This year, Jackson, Mississippi rose to the #1 spot on the list (up from #4 last year) primarily due to very high pollen and a large reliance on allergy medications among allergy patients.
The rankings are based on scientific analysis of three factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. The data measured and compared for the ranking include:
Pollen scores (airborne grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores)
Number of allergy medications used per patient
Number of allergy specialists per patient
Northern Cities Not Spared and The South Also Rises: Jackson, MS ranked #1 “Spring Allergy Capital”
This year Jackson wasn’t the only city in the south to make it to the top. Overall, 15 of the top 25 cities on this year’s ranking are in the South, continuing a trend that AAFA has seen over the years. “Our spring listing usually features cities from the southeast and deep south, and the #1 spot is almost always a southern city,” says Mike Tringale, AAFA’s Vice President of External Affairs. On this year’s list, the city with the worst pollen score is Wichita, KS; the city showing the greatest use of allergy medications is Jackson, MS; and the city with the lowest number of allergy specialists-per-patient is Virginia Beach, VA. Northern cities predicted to face a more challenging spring allergy season compared to one year ago include: Buffalo, NY (rising 10 spots to rank #15 out of 100 cities), Springfield, MA, (rising 74 spots to #18), Detroit, MI, (rising 50 spots to #26) and Toledo, OH (rising 57 spots to #29).
Read the full report at: http://allergycapitals.com/
Credit scoring systems are complex and vary among creditors or insurance companies and for different types of credit or insurance. If one factor changes, your score may change — but improvement generally depends on how that factor relates to others the system considers. Only the business using the scoring knows what might improve your score under the particular model they use to evaluate your application.
Nevertheless, scoring models usually consider the following types of information in your credit report to help compute your credit score:
1. Have you paid your bills on time? You can count on payment history to be a significant factor. If your credit report indicates that you have paid bills late, had an account referred to collections, or declared bankruptcy, it is likely to affect your score negatively.
2. Are you maxed out? Many scoring systems evaluate the amount of debt you have compared to your credit limits. If the amount you owe is close to your credit limit, it’s likely to have a negative effect on your score.
3. How long have you had credit? Generally, scoring systems consider the length of your credit track record. An insufficient credit history may affect your score negatively, but factors like timely payments and low balances can offset that.
4. Have you applied for new credit lately? Many scoring systems consider whether you have applied for credit recently by looking at “inquiries” on your credit report. If you have applied for too many new accounts recently, it could have a negative effect on your score. Every inquiry isn’t counted: for example, inquiries by creditors who are monitoring your account or looking at credit reports to make “prescreened” credit offers are not considered liabilities.
5. How many credit accounts do you have and what kinds of accounts are they? Although it is generally considered a plus to have established credit accounts, too many credit card accounts may have a negative effect on your score. In addition, many scoring systems consider the type of credit accounts you have. For example, under some scoring models, loans from finance companies may have a negative effect on your credit score.
Scoring models may be based on more than the information in your credit report. When you are applying for a mortgage loan, for example, the system may consider the amount of your down payment, your total debt, and your income, among other things.
Improving your score significantly is likely to take some time, but it can be done. To improve your credit score under most systems, focus on paying your bills in a timely way, paying down any outstanding balances, and staying away from new debt.
WHAT IS CREDIT SCORING?
Credit scoring is a system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit. It also may be used to help decide the terms you are offered or the rate you will pay for the loan.
Information about you and your credit experiences, like your bill-paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, whether you pay your bills by the date they’re due, collection actions, outstanding debt, and the age of your accounts, is collected from your credit report. Using a statistical program, creditors compare this information to the loan repayment history of consumers with similar profiles. For example, a credit scoring system awards points for each factor that helps predict who is most likely to repay a debt. A total number of points — a credit score — helps predict how creditworthy you are — how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments when they’re due.
Some insurance companies also use credit report information, along with other factors, to help predict your likelihood of filing an insurance claim and the amount of the claim. They may consider these factors when they decide whether to grant you insurance and the amount of the premium they charge. The credit scores insurance companies use sometimes are called “insurance scores” or “credit-based insurance scores.”
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