The number of bankruptcy filings in New Hampshire filed during the pandemic continues to remain at bafflingly low levels.

While it was widely expected that bankruptcies would rise during the pandemic, thanks to a massive amount of federal aid and protections, they have fallen to levels not seen in a generation. Last July, when the state unemployment rate was 8%, there were only 72 filings. This July, there were 18 fewer filings. That’s the lowest of any July since 1987, when there were 46.

The high for July was in 2009, during the last recession, when there were 494 filings. In other words, more than nine times as many as July 2021.

Year to date, the monthly average of bankruptcy filings is 66. In 2020, the average was 88. Compare that to the 459 monthly average in the midst of the last recession in 2010.

Business filings are also down. There were no personal filings that included business-related debt, compared to three in June. Two businesses did file directly, compared to one in June. They were:

• J. Hunter Properties LLC (a small motel property), Hampton, filed July 15, Chapter 11. Assets and Liabilities: $1 million to $10 million.

• Pro Line Companies LLC, New Boston, filed July 22, Chapter 7. Assets: $0.

Liabilities: $141,048. — BOB SANDERS