%1

Contact: John Hartgen

             703-442-0133

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

NOVEMBER CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS INCREASE 39
PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR

December 3, 2008, Alexandria, Va.
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>— U.S. consumer
bankruptcy filings increased 39.2 percent nationwide in November from
the same period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy
Institute (ABI), relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research
Center (NBKRC). The overall November consumer filing total of 99,925
represented a slight decrease from the October total of 106,266.
Chapter 13 filings constituted 32.7 percent of all consumer cases in
November, a slight increase from October. 

“While new bankruptcies dipped slightly in November from the
yearly high reached last month, we are still on track for nearly 1.1
million new cases this year, the highest figure since Congress changed
the bankruptcy laws in 2005,” said ABI Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J.
Gerdano. “We expect the alarming rate of personal
bankruptcies to continue well into 2009.”  

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy
size='3'>, by the American Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an
individual with regular income whose debts do not exceed specific
amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the debtor’s
future earnings under a plan through which unsecured creditors are paid
in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

OCTOBER CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS TOP 100,000 FOR

FIRST TIME SINCE LAW CHANGE IN 2005

November 4, 2008, Alexandria, Va.- U.S. consumer bankruptcy
filings increased 40 percent nationwide in October from the same period
a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI),
relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
The overall October consumer filing total of 106,266 also represented a
20 percent increase from September. Chapter 13 filings constituted 32.6
percent of all consumer cases in October, a slight decrease from
September. 

The October consumer filing total also represents the first time that

bankruptcies have topped 100,000 since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention
and Consumer Protection Act went into effect in October 2005. The
880,076 consumer filings through the first 10 months of 2008 (Jan. 1 -
Oct. 31) have already eclipsed the filing total of 822,590 for all of
last year.

“October's sharp spike in new consumer bankruptcies confirms
the severe financial stress on household budgets caused by high debts,
flat incomes, and declining home values,” said ABI Executive
Director Samuel
J. Gerdano.  “We expect the 2008 numbers to be the

highest since the new bankruptcy law went into effect in
2005.”

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman' color='#0000ff'>www.abiworld.org. For
additional conference information, visit
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

*Definitions from Bankruptcy Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the

American Bankruptcy Institute.

Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to both individual and
business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair distribution to
creditors of the debtor's available non-exempt property.  Unsecured

debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing a fresh financial
start. 

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for both business and
consumer debtors. Its purpose is to rehabilitate a business as a going
concern or reorganize an individual's finances through a court-approved
reorganization plan.

Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code is designed to give special debt
relief to a family farmer with regular income from farming.

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an individual with

regular income whose debts do not exceed specific amounts; it is
typically used to budget some of the debtor's future earnings under a
plan through which unsecured creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

OCTOBER CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS TOP 100,000 FOR

FIRST TIME SINCE LAW CHANGE IN 2005

November 4, 2008, Alexandria, Va.- U.S. consumer bankruptcy
filings increased 40 percent nationwide in October from the same period
a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI),
relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
The overall October consumer filing total of 106,266 also represented a
20 percent increase from September. Chapter 13 filings constituted 32.6
percent of all consumer cases in October, a slight decrease from
September. 

The October consumer filing total also represents the first time that

bankruptcies have topped 100,000 since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention
and Consumer Protection Act went into effect in October 2005. The
880,076 consumer filings through the first 10 months of 2008 (Jan. 1 -
Oct. 31) have already eclipsed the filing total of 822,590 for all of
last year.

“October's sharp spike in new consumer bankruptcies confirms
the severe financial stress on household budgets caused by high debts,
flat incomes, and declining home values,” said ABI Executive
Director Samuel
J. Gerdano.  “We expect the 2008 numbers to be the

highest since the new bankruptcy law went into effect in
2005.”

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman' color='#0000ff'>www.abiworld.org. For
additional conference information, visit
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

*Definitions from Bankruptcy Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the

American Bankruptcy Institute.

Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to both individual and
business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair distribution to
creditors of the debtor's available non-exempt property.  Unsecured

debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing a fresh financial
start. 

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for both business and
consumer debtors. Its purpose is to rehabilitate a business as a going
concern or reorganize an individual's finances through a court-approved
reorganization plan.

Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code is designed to give special debt
relief to a family farmer with regular income from farming.

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an individual with

regular income whose debts do not exceed specific amounts; it is
typically used to budget some of the debtor's future earnings under a
plan through which unsecured creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

(703) 739-0800

color='#0000ff'>jhartgen@abiworld.org

SEPTEMBER
CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS UP 28.6 PERCENT OVER PREVIOUS
YEAR

size='3'>October 3, 2008, Alexandria, Va
size='3'>.
size='3'>— U.S. consumer bankruptcy
filings increased 28.6 percent nationwide in September from the same
period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI),

relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
While representing an increase from the previous year, the overall
September consumer filing total of 88,663 represented an 8 percent
decline fromAugust. Chapter
13 filings constituted 33.5 percent of all consumer cases in September,
a slight increase from August. 

'The continued rise in
personal bankruptcies reflects high consumer debt, made worse by energy
costs and the weak housing market, trapping many households in homes
they can neither afford or sell,” said ABI
Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano.
“We expect consumer bankruptcies to exceed
1.1 million new cases by year end.”

###

ABI is the largest
multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and
education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to
provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy
issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,700 attorneys,
accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround
specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for
the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on
ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information,
visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
size='3'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>.

NBKRC is an online research
center that offers subscribers access to up-to-date research and
statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database contains complete
information dating back to 1995. For more information on NBKRC, please
visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff' size='3'>http://www.nbkrc.com
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the American
Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

size='3'>Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for an individual with regular income whose debts do
not exceed specific amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the
debtor’s future earnings under a plan through which unsecured
creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

(703) 739-0800

color='#0000ff'>jhartgen@abiworld.org

SEPTEMBER
CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS UP 28.6 PERCENT OVER PREVIOUS
YEAR

size='3'>October 3, 2008, Alexandria, Va
size='3'>.
size='3'>— U.S. consumer bankruptcy
filings increased 28.6 percent nationwide in September from the same
period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI),

relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
While representing an increase from the previous year, the overall
September consumer filing total of 88,663 represented an 8 percent
decline fromAugust. Chapter
13 filings constituted 33.5 percent of all consumer cases in September,
a slight increase from August. 

'The continued rise in
personal bankruptcies reflects high consumer debt, made worse by energy
costs and the weak housing market, trapping many households in homes
they can neither afford or sell,” said ABI
Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano.
“We expect consumer bankruptcies to exceed
1.1 million new cases by year end.”

###

ABI is the largest
multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and
education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to
provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy
issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,700 attorneys,
accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround
specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for
the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on
ABI, visit www.abiworld.org. For additional conference information,
visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
size='3'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>.

NBKRC is an online research
center that offers subscribers access to up-to-date research and
statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database contains complete
information dating back to 1995. For more information on NBKRC, please
visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff' size='3'>http://www.nbkrc.com
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the American
Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

size='3'>Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for an individual with regular income whose debts do
not exceed specific amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the
debtor’s future earnings under a plan through which unsecured
creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

AUGUST CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS UP 29 PERCENT
OVER PREVIOUS YEAR; SET POST-BAPCPA RECORD FOR SINGLE MONTH

September 3, 2008, Alexandria, Va.
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>— U.S. consumer
bankruptcy filings increased 29.2 percent nationwide in August from the
same period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute
(ABI), relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center
(NBKRC). The overall August consumer filing total of 96,413 also
set a single month high since the October 2005 effective date of the new

bankruptcy law. Chapter 13 filings constituted 33.2 percent of all
consumer cases in August, a slight increase from July. 

“The latest data reflect the growing trend of U.S. consumers to

seek bankruptcy as a way out of financial problems,” said ABI
Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano.   “We expect
bankruptcies to exceed 1.1 million by year end.”

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy
size='3'>, by the American Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an
individual with regular income whose debts do not exceed specific
amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the debtor’s
future earnings under a plan through which unsecured creditors are paid
in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

AUGUST CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS UP 29 PERCENT
OVER PREVIOUS YEAR; SET POST-BAPCPA RECORD FOR SINGLE MONTH

September 3, 2008, Alexandria, Va.
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>— U.S. consumer
bankruptcy filings increased 29.2 percent nationwide in August from the
same period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute
(ABI), relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center
(NBKRC). The overall August consumer filing total of 96,413 also
set a single month high since the October 2005 effective date of the new

bankruptcy law. Chapter 13 filings constituted 33.2 percent of all
consumer cases in August, a slight increase from July. 

“The latest data reflect the growing trend of U.S. consumers to

seek bankruptcy as a way out of financial problems,” said ABI
Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano.   “We expect
bankruptcies to exceed 1.1 million by year end.”

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy
size='3'>, by the American Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an
individual with regular income whose debts do not exceed specific
amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the debtor’s
future earnings under a plan through which unsecured creditors are paid
in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

TOTAL U.S. BANKRUPTCIES IN FIRST HALF OF 2008 UP 29

PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO

August 27, 2008, Alexandria, Va.- The total number of U.S.
bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2008 increased 29.2
percent over the same period in 2007, according to data released today
by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Total filings reached
522,205 during the first half of the calendar year of 2008 (January
1-June 30), compared to 404,090 cases filed over the same period in
2007.

“The continued rise in bankruptcies to their highest levels
since Congress changed the law points to the growing strain on family
budgets,” said ABI Executive Director
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano. “We
expect this trend to continue through the end of the year, with cases
surging past 1 million by year end.”

Filings by individuals or households with consumer debt increased
28.8 percent to 503,749 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008,
from the 2007 first-half total of 391,105. The overall percentage of
consumers filing for chapter 13 protection fell slightly from 38.4
percent during the first half of 2007 (January 1-June 30) to 33.8
percent over the same period in 2008. Conversely, the first-half 2008
percentage of chapter 7 consumer filers increased to 66.1 percent from
the 61.6 percent recorded in the first half of 2007.

Business filings for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008,
totaled 18,456, representing a 42.1 percent increase over the first-half

2007 total of 12,985. Chapter 7 business liquidations increased to
13,002 in the first half of 2008, a 54.7 percent increase over the 8,404

business chapter 7 filings during the same period in 2007. Chapter 11
reorganizations also rose from 2,713 in the first half of 2007 to 3,470
in the same period of 2008, a 27.9 percent increase.

The 276,510 total filings for the second calendar quarter 2008 (April

1-June 30) represented a 12.5 percent increase from the first quarter
2008 (Jan. 1-March 31) filings of 245,695. Business filings in the
second quarter of 2008 increased 11.8 percent to 9,743 over the 8,713
business filings in the first quarter. Of note, however, is that chapter

11 business filings decreased 8.5 percent in the second calendar quarter

of 2008 to 1,658 from the 1,812 filings of the first quarter of 2008.
Consumer filings increased 12.6 percent from 236,982 recorded in the
first quarter of 2008 to 266,767 in the second quarter.

The 967,831 total filings for the 12-month period ending June 30,
2008, represented a 28.9 percent from the same period in 2007, which
totaled 751,056. The bankruptcy filing rate per thousand U.S. residents
totaled 3.15 for all chapters during the 12-month period ending June 30,

2008, as 2.0 Americans per thousand filed for chapter 7 while 1.12 per
thousand filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy. Tennessee was the state with
the highest per capita filing rate in the country with 6.92 residents
per thousand filing in all chapters, and also had the highest per capita

filing rate for chapter 13 filings at 4.08. The state with the highest
per capita filing rate for chapter 7 bankruptcy was Michigan at 3.82 per

thousand for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2008.

Nonbusiness filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008,
were up to 934,009 filings, a 28.4 percent increase from the 727,167
total nonbusiness filings over the same period in 2007. Business filings

for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008, totaled 33,822, up 41.6
percent from the 23,889 bankruptcy petitions filed in the 12-month
period ending June 30, 2007.

The 615,748 total chapter 7 filings for the 12-month period ending
June 30, 2008, represent a 36.7 percent increase from the 450,332
filings from the same period in 2007. Total chapter 13 filings increased

16.9 percent to 344,421 in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008,
from 294,693 in the same period last year. Total chapter 11 filings also

increased, rising 30.6 percent to 7,293 in 2008 from 5,586 in 2007.
Contrasting the upward trend, however, were chapter 12 filings, which
decreased 18.7 percent from 386 in 2007 to 314 in 2008.

BUSINESS FILINGS for the 3-month period ending June 30, 2008,
totaled 9,743, up 45.3 percent from the 6,705 bankruptcy business cases
filed in the same period in 2007. NON-BUSINESS FILINGS for the 3-month
period ending June 30, 2008, increased 30.9 percent from 203,744 in 2007

to 266,767 in 2008.

The chapter* breakdown of BUSINESS filings for the 3-month period
ending June 30, 2008, is: 7,043 chapter 7s, 1,658 chapter 11s, 85
chapter 12s and 940 chapter 13s.

The chapter breakdown of NON-BUSINESS filings for the 3-month period
ending June 30, 2008, is: 180,353 chapter 7s, 230 chapter 11s and 86,184

chapter 13s.

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

*Definitions from Bankruptcy Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the

American Bankruptcy Institute

Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to both individual and
business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair distribution to
creditors of the debtor's available non-exempt property.  Unsecured

debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing a fresh financial
start. 

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for both business and
consumer debtors. Its purpose is to rehabilitate a business as a going
concern or reorganize an individual's finances through a court-approved
reorganization plan.

Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code is designed to give special debt
relief to a family farmer with regular income from farming.

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an individual with

regular income whose debts do not exceed specific amounts; it is
typically used to budget some of the debtor's future earnings under a
plan through which unsecured creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

TOTAL U.S. BANKRUPTCIES IN FIRST HALF OF 2008 UP 29

PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO

August 27, 2008, Alexandria, Va.- The total number of U.S.
bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2008 increased 29.2
percent over the same period in 2007, according to data released today
by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Total filings reached
522,205 during the first half of the calendar year of 2008 (January
1-June 30), compared to 404,090 cases filed over the same period in
2007.

“The continued rise in bankruptcies to their highest levels
since Congress changed the law points to the growing strain on family
budgets,” said ABI Executive Director
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano. “We
expect this trend to continue through the end of the year, with cases
surging past 1 million by year end.”

Filings by individuals or households with consumer debt increased
28.8 percent to 503,749 for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008,
from the 2007 first-half total of 391,105. The overall percentage of
consumers filing for chapter 13 protection fell slightly from 38.4
percent during the first half of 2007 (January 1-June 30) to 33.8
percent over the same period in 2008. Conversely, the first-half 2008
percentage of chapter 7 consumer filers increased to 66.1 percent from
the 61.6 percent recorded in the first half of 2007.

Business filings for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008,
totaled 18,456, representing a 42.1 percent increase over the first-half

2007 total of 12,985. Chapter 7 business liquidations increased to
13,002 in the first half of 2008, a 54.7 percent increase over the 8,404

business chapter 7 filings during the same period in 2007. Chapter 11
reorganizations also rose from 2,713 in the first half of 2007 to 3,470
in the same period of 2008, a 27.9 percent increase.

The 276,510 total filings for the second calendar quarter 2008 (April

1-June 30) represented a 12.5 percent increase from the first quarter
2008 (Jan. 1-March 31) filings of 245,695. Business filings in the
second quarter of 2008 increased 11.8 percent to 9,743 over the 8,713
business filings in the first quarter. Of note, however, is that chapter

11 business filings decreased 8.5 percent in the second calendar quarter

of 2008 to 1,658 from the 1,812 filings of the first quarter of 2008.
Consumer filings increased 12.6 percent from 236,982 recorded in the
first quarter of 2008 to 266,767 in the second quarter.

The 967,831 total filings for the 12-month period ending June 30,
2008, represented a 28.9 percent from the same period in 2007, which
totaled 751,056. The bankruptcy filing rate per thousand U.S. residents
totaled 3.15 for all chapters during the 12-month period ending June 30,

2008, as 2.0 Americans per thousand filed for chapter 7 while 1.12 per
thousand filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy. Tennessee was the state with
the highest per capita filing rate in the country with 6.92 residents
per thousand filing in all chapters, and also had the highest per capita

filing rate for chapter 13 filings at 4.08. The state with the highest
per capita filing rate for chapter 7 bankruptcy was Michigan at 3.82 per

thousand for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2008.

Nonbusiness filings for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008,
were up to 934,009 filings, a 28.4 percent increase from the 727,167
total nonbusiness filings over the same period in 2007. Business filings

for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008, totaled 33,822, up 41.6
percent from the 23,889 bankruptcy petitions filed in the 12-month
period ending June 30, 2007.

The 615,748 total chapter 7 filings for the 12-month period ending
June 30, 2008, represent a 36.7 percent increase from the 450,332
filings from the same period in 2007. Total chapter 13 filings increased

16.9 percent to 344,421 in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2008,
from 294,693 in the same period last year. Total chapter 11 filings also

increased, rising 30.6 percent to 7,293 in 2008 from 5,586 in 2007.
Contrasting the upward trend, however, were chapter 12 filings, which
decreased 18.7 percent from 386 in 2007 to 314 in 2008.

BUSINESS FILINGS for the 3-month period ending June 30, 2008,
totaled 9,743, up 45.3 percent from the 6,705 bankruptcy business cases
filed in the same period in 2007. NON-BUSINESS FILINGS for the 3-month
period ending June 30, 2008, increased 30.9 percent from 203,744 in 2007

to 266,767 in 2008.

The chapter* breakdown of BUSINESS filings for the 3-month period
ending June 30, 2008, is: 7,043 chapter 7s, 1,658 chapter 11s, 85
chapter 12s and 940 chapter 13s.

The chapter breakdown of NON-BUSINESS filings for the 3-month period
ending June 30, 2008, is: 180,353 chapter 7s, 230 chapter 11s and 86,184

chapter 13s.

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

*Definitions from Bankruptcy Overview: Issues, Law and Policy, by the

American Bankruptcy Institute

Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to both individual and
business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair distribution to
creditors of the debtor's available non-exempt property.  Unsecured

debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing a fresh financial
start. 

Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for both business and
consumer debtors. Its purpose is to rehabilitate a business as a going
concern or reorganize an individual's finances through a court-approved
reorganization plan.

Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code is designed to give special debt
relief to a family farmer with regular income from farming.

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an individual with

regular income whose debts do not exceed specific amounts; it is
typically used to budget some of the debtor's future earnings under a
plan through which unsecured creditors are paid in whole or in part.

Contact: John Hartgen

            

703-739-0800

            

jhartgen@abiworld.org

JULY CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY FILINGS INCREASE 48 PERCENT OVER PREVIOUS
YEAR

August 4, 2008, Alexandria, Va.
face='Times New Roman' size='3'>— U.S. consumer
bankruptcy filings increased 48 percent nationwide in July from the same

period a year ago, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI),

relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center (NBKRC).
The overall July consumer filing total of 94,124 also represented

an increase of 13.7 percent from the 82,770 filings recorded in June.
Chapter 13 filings constituted 32.5 percent of all consumer cases in
July, a slight decrease from June. 

“The most recent uptick in bankruptcy filings reflects growing
stress on the household finances of U.S. families,” said ABI
Executive Director
size='3'>Samuel J. Gerdano.  “We expect
bankruptcies to continue to surge past 1 million new cases by year
end.”

###

ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization
dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency.
ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased

analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than
11,700 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders,
turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional
information on ABI, visit
face='Times New Roman'>www.abiworld.org. For additional
conference information, visit
title='blocked::http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'
href='http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.abiworld.org/conferences.html.

NBKRC is an online research center that offers subscribers access to
up-to-date research and statistics on bankruptcy filings. The database
contains complete information dating back to 1995. For more information
on NBKRC, please visit
href='http://www.nbkrc.com/'>
color='#0000ff'>http://www.nbkrc.com.

size='3'>*Definitions from Bankruptcy
Overview: Issues, Law and Policy
size='3'>, by the American Bankruptcy Institute.



Chapter
7 of the Bankruptcy Code is available to
both individual and business debtors. Its purpose is to achieve a fair
distribution to creditors of the debtor’s available non-exempt
property.  Unsecured debts not reaffirmed are discharged, providing

a fresh financial start.  

size='3'>Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code is available for both business and consumer debtors. Its purpose is

to rehabilitate a business as a going concern or reorganize an
individual’s finances through a court-approved reorganization
plan.

size='3'>Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy
Code is designed to give special debt relief to a family farmer with
regular income from farming. 

Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code is available for an
individual with regular income whose debts do not exceed specific
amounts; it is typically used to budget some of the debtor’s
future earnings under a plan through which unsecured creditors are paid
in whole or in part.