Maine cities charted by debt-risk levels

Indicators reflecting economic status include real estate price trends, bankruptcies and regional credit scores.

Mortgage insurer The PMI Group Inc. of Walnut Creek, Calif., produces a chart of 379 housing markets and rates the risk of a decline in housing prices over the next two years. A score of 500 means there’s a 50 percent chance of a price decline; a score of 400, a 40 percent chance, and so on.

The current risk measure is:

. 58 for Bangor, Maine.

. 63 for Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.

. 64 for Lewiston-Auburn, Maine.

. 172 for Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine.

. 274 for Manchester-Nashua, N.H.

. 279 for Rockingham Country-Strafford County, N.H.

The American Bankruptcy Institute tracks annual business and individual bankruptcy filings.

Filings in 2004 were:

. Maine: 4,508 total; 138 business, 4,370 individual.

. New Hampshire: 4,651 total; 158 business, 4,493 individual.

. Vermont: 1,698 total; 85 business, 1,613 individual.

Credit reporting agency Experian keeps track of a region’s credit score, including average debt owed by an individual. The national credit score is 678 on a scale of 330 to 830, with the higher score representing a lower credit risk. The national average individual debt is $11,497.

The score and debt level in:

. Maine: 702 credit score, $14,641 average individual debt.

. New Hampshire: 706 credit score, $17,021 average individual debt.

. Vermont: 704 credit score, $13,164 average individual debt.