After rising in September, the number of New Hampshire bankruptcy filings fell in October, albeit only slightly, indicating that the trend this year is a plateau rather than the steep declines seen in the first years of the pandemic.

Some 53 individuals filed for bankruptcy in October, 10 fewer than the previous month and one fewer than October 2021. It’s the lowest total for any October since 1986, when there were 51.

From another perspective, the 53 filings this October are over 400 fewer than the number in October 2009, when there were 466.

Average monthly filings is 54, 11.5 percent lower than last year, though the decline isn’t nearly as deep as in 2021, which saw a 31 percent decline, or 2020, when the decrease was 41 percent.

No businesses directly filed for bankruptcy in October, but two individuals filed with business debt.

— BOB SANDERS