The number of Hawaii residents and businesses filing for bankruptcy fell in October for the 20th consecutive month, according to data released today by U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The 230 cases filed in October represented an 11.5 percent decrease from the 260 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 133 in October, a 3.6 percent drop from 138 the same month last year.

In Hawaii County filings fell 13.9 percent to 31 cases and in Kauai County they fell 15.4 percent to 11 cases. Filings fell to 55 in Maui County, a 24.7 percent increase from 73 filings in October 2011.