More unsurprising but worsening data

Bankruptcy Filings Surge Among US Consumers

American consumers’ bankruptcy filings jumped 15 percent in February from the previous month and a steeper rise is looming because of the subprime mortgage crisis, the American Bankruptcy Institute said.

Consumer bankruptcy filings in February totaled 76,120, up from 66,050 recorded in January, the non-partisan bankruptcy research group said.

The February number was 37 percent higher than in the same month a year ago, according to the institute