There were 900 bankruptcy petitions presented in January, down 7.5% from the December figure of 973, a drop of 13.5% compared with the average monthly figure of 1,041 in 2004, the Official Receiver's Office says. 

During the month, the court made 852 bankruptcy orders, up 76.4% from the previous month's figure of 483, but a drop of 24.8% on the average monthly figure of 1,133 in 2004.