TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Central Florida Bankruptcies Surge

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL SASSO

msasso@tampatrib.com

Published: March 6, 2009

TAMPA - It may come as no surprise, but bankruptcies surged in Central Florida last year, especially among businesses.

According to federal bankruptcy statistics released Thursday, 42,611 people and businesses in 2008 filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's Florida Middle District, which includes central, southwest and northeast Florida. That's up 61 percent from 2007.

The middle district had the third highest number of bankruptcy filings among the 98 bankruptcy districts in the United States. Only the central district of California and the eastern district of Michigan, which ranked first and second, respectively, saw larger numbers of bankruptcies.

Businesses had the biggest percentage jump in bankruptcy filings. Last year, 2,230 businesses in Florida's middle district filed for bankruptcy, up 101 percent from 2007. Nonbusiness filings rose to 40,381 cases, a 59 percent increase.

Florida appears to be faring worse than the United States, overall. Nationwide, a total of 1.1 million people and businesses filed for bankruptcy last year, up 31 percent from the year before. New business bankruptcy filings rose to 43,546 cases last year, up 54 percent. Total nonbusiness filings hit 1.07 million nationwide last year, up 31 percent from 2007.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT