Bankruptcy Filings 2004

2004 Filings Continue to Climb!

The number of bankruptcy filings during the three-month period from January 1 to March 31 , 2004 was 407,572. The number of filings for the three months ending Dec. 31, 2003 was 393,348. Filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2004 rose 2.7 percent.

Filings increased under all chapters with the exception of chapter 12 which showed a 9.3% drop from 632 in March 2003 to 573 in March 2004. Chapter 7 filings increased 3.6% to 1,176,654 from 1,135,436 in the same period. Chapter 13 showed an increase of .03%, 465,878 in 2004 compared to 464,369 in 2003. Under chapter 11, small business debtor, filings rose 8.6% from 10,722 in 2003 to 11,649 in 2004.

Break down is as follows:

Stats for both business and non business filings.
For years ending March 31, 1999-2004

Year	Business	Personal	Total	Chapter 7	Chapter 11	Chapter 13
2004	36,785	1,618,062	1,654,847	11,7654	11,649	465,878
2003	37,548	1,573,720	1,611,268	1,135,436	10,722	464,369
2002	39,091	1,508,578	1,547,669	1,084,336	11,669	451,258
2001	35,992	1.272 million	1,307,857	1014137	10519	412272
2000	38,109	1.263 million	1,301,205	870805	8982	380880
1999	38625	1.315 million	1,354,376	959,291	8,765	385,262

Data gleaned from: The Federal Judiciary