With prices rising on everything from groceries to rent amid a backdrop of economic uncertainty, many Americans are struggling to pay the bills.

They’re even turning to credit to pay for essentials. A recent LendingTree survey found that one-quarter (25%) of buy-now-pay-later users have used these loans to buy groceries.

But some states are struggling more than others. Florida is now one of the most financially stressed states in the country, second only to another Southern state, according to a new report by WalletHub, which defines financial distress as having credit in forbearance or deferring payments due to financial difficulty.

Texas is the most financially distressed state in the country, followed by Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and South Carolina. The states that are best off? That honor goes to Hawaii, followed by Vermont, Alaska, Oregon and New Mexico.

People in Florida are facing significant financial challenges, with a new study revealing the state has the highest number of distressed credit accounts in the nation.

According to research from WalletHub, Florida ranks as the second-most financially distressed state overall, trailing only Texas. The study examined nine different metrics across all 50 states.

What's particularly alarming is that Florida saw a 23% increase in the number of distressed accounts over the past year. These accounts are considered "in distress" when they're in forbearance or under deferred payment plans.

The study also revealed a political divide in financial wellness, with residents in Republican-leaning states experiencing more financial distress compared to those in Democratic-leaning states. Hawaii and Vermont were identified as the two least financially distressed states.