After 18 straight months of declines, U.S. foreclosure inventory is now at its lowest point since the end of 2008, according to a monthly report from Lender Processing Services.

Foreclosure inventory fell nearly 30 percent year over year in October, to 1.28 million loans, or 2.54 percent of currently active mortgages.

Delinquencies (loans that are 30 or more days past due but not in foreclosure) fell 2.8 percent from September, to 3.15 million loans, or 6.28 percent of mortgages. The delinquency rate fell 10.7 percent on an annual basis.

All in all, 4.4 million properties were either delinquent or in foreclosure in October. Mississippi had the highest percentage of non-current loans among states last month, eclipsing Florida for the first time since 2008.

“Except for the period after Katrina, Mississippi has held the dubious distinction of having the highest non-current inventory for virtually all of the history LPS tracks. So, unfortunately for Mississippians, this is more indication that things are getting back to ‘normal,’ ” LPS said.