News from the American Bankruptcy Institute
TOTAL BANKRUPTCY FILINGS INCREASE 32 PERCENT IN 2009, APPROACH PRE-BAPCPA LEVELS
Total bankruptcy filings in the United States increased 32 percent in 2009 over calendar year 2008, according to data released today from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC). Bankruptcy filings totaled 1,473,675 for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2009, a significant increase over the previous year’s total of 1,117,641. Business bankruptcies increased to 60,837 filings during calendar year 2009, representing a 40 percent increase in filings from the 43,533 filings made during the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2008. The 12-month business filing total for 2009 was the highest since the 62,304 filings recorded for the 1993 calendar year. The 1,412,838 consumer filings during the 2009 calendar year represented a 32 percent increase over the 1,074,225 recorded during the same period in 2008. The consumer chapter 7 total of 1,008,870 filings during the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2009, represented a 41 percent increase over the 714,389 consumer chapter 7 filings during 2008. The 2009 consumer chapter 7 filings comprised 71 percent of the total consumer filings for the 2008 calendar year, up from 67 percent the previous year. Click here to read the press release.
