At the same time, a record 1.5 million people filed for bankruptcy protection, about 6 percent more than in 2001, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Bankruptcies surged in New York State in the last quarter, rising slightly faster than the national average, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

"There's no such thing as a private bankruptcy," said Samuel Gerdano, the executive director of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Personal bankruptcies are on track this year to surpass last year's record of 1.5 million, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

With the economy slowing and unemployment in cities like Memphis rising, the American Bankruptcy Institute reports that numbers of consumer bankruptcies nationwide are creeping up, too.

According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, Chapter 11 filings hit 19,591 in 1990, up from 7,828 in 1981.

Member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Last year, there were more than 1.1 million "fresh start" bankruptcy filings, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute, which uses data from the court system.

Across the country, bankruptcy filings by individuals doubled since 1985 and rose 16.4 percent in 1990, to 718,107, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

In 1996, one household in every 82 nationwide declared bankruptcy, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.