Bankruptcy filings in Hawaii fell in July for the 17th consecutive month, according to data released today by U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The 199 cases filed in July was 26 percent fewer than the 268 cases filed the same month a year earlier, the court reported. Bankruptcy filings have been trending lower since averaging 330 a month during the recent peak in 2010.

Bankruptcies fell in all counties. In Honolulu County the number of cases fell to 127 in July, a 24 percent drop from 168 the same month last year.

Filings fell to 33 in Maui County, a 28 percent decline from 46 filings in July 2011. In Hawaii County filings fell 22 percent to 31 cases and in Kauai County they fell 58 percent to eight cases.