There were 45 businesses created or renewed in Cambridge in January, down around 18 percent from last month.

Of the 45, there were 30 new businesses and 15 renewals.

The number is nearly identical to five years ago, when there were 46 businesses listed as new or renewed with the Cambridge city clerk.

It is the third month in a row in which the figures return to roughly their position five years earlier; for December, 55 compared with 50 in 2006, and for November, 60 compared with 59 in 2006.

In the intervening time, there has been 51 businesses created or renewed in January a year ago; 59 in January 2008; and 61 in January 2007. The current “Great Recession” began 11 months later, in December 2007.