The number of bankruptcies in North Central Washington dropped in May, the first monthly decline since the beginning of the year.
It was the also the first monthly drop in bankruptcy filings for the state.
Statewide, there were 2,570 bankruptcy filings in May, down from 2,735 in April but nearly 50 percent more than a year ago, according to AACER, a bankruptcy-data and management firm.
In North Central Washington, there were 81 bankruptcy filings in May compared to 89 in April.
Last month there were 26 bankruptcy filings in Chelan County, 15 in Douglas, 11 in Okanogan and 29 in Grant. For Douglas and Grant counties, those numbers were lower than April's and filings stayed the same for Okanogan. Only Chelan County posted an increase, from 24 in April to 26 last month.
Economic development leaders in the Wenatchee Valley have said that they expect the recession is not hitting NCW as hard as other parts of the nation.
While this region was late to enter the recession, Craig Larsen, executive director of the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce and a Chelan County Port commissioner, said he expects NCW to emerge from it, along with the rest of the nation, around the end of the year.
But the recession is taking its toll.
So far this year, 12,300 people have declared bankruptcy in Washington state, a 50 percent increase from the same five-month period in 2008, as high unemployment and tight credit have made it harder for families to pay their bills.
Washington ranked 22nd among the states in May in per capita filings.
Although businesses comprise a tiny fraction of the bankruptcy filings, court statistics show they are in distress as well. Eighty-one businesses in Western Washington sought bankruptcy protection from creditors last month, about twice as many as a year ago.
While bankruptcies fell last month statewide, King, Pierce and Clark counties continue to see filings climb or stay steady. Filings declined in Snohomish County.
The Seattle Times and World staff contributed to this report.