PHOENIX ECONOMY STILL NOT DEAD

Stop the presses! From Arizona, actual non-discouraging economic news:

BANKRUPTCY FILINGS DECLINE IN PHOENIX AREA THIS YEAR

Lowest figure seen since January 2009

Fewer Arizonans are turning to bankruptcy to deal with their finances, and the momentum is building.

The Phoenix area logged just 1,321 bankruptcy filings in January, the lowest total since January 2009, according to figures released by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Phoenix.

The 33.5 percent plunge from January 2010 was the largest percentage drop since October 2006. What’s more, filings have fallen on a year-over-year basis for 12 consecutive months.

Arizona had 1,795 filings, for a decline of 30.9 percent, the lowest statewide total since January 2009.

“If it keeps up like this, I’m going to have to start writing more wills,” Mesa attorney Joe Volin said. “It has definitely slowed.”

Meanwhile, construction spending in South Florida is looking pretty darn strong. . . .