Bankruptcy filings have now fallen in Minnesota and the rest of the United States for two straight years, to their lowest levels since 2008. Consumer bankruptcy filings in Minnesota fell 11.3 percent in fiscal 2012, which ended Sept. 30, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Filing for bankruptcy fell 14 percent nationally over the same period. In Minnesota, 17,666 people filed for bankruptcy on the year, the lowest number since 2008.

And for the U.S....