Consumer bankruptcy filings fell for the second consecutive month.
The American Bankruptcy Institute reported Wednesday that 136,142 consumer bankruptcies were filed in May. Filings fell from 144,490 in April, when bankruptcies retreated from the March’s five-year high.
But in May 2009, activity was lower at 124,838.
From Jan. 1 to May 31, 643,847 filings were made.
The group’s 12,600 members include lawyers and judges, bankers and lenders, and other bankruptcy professionals. Its statistics were based on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center.
Chapter 13 filings accounted for 26 percent of last month’s activity, or roughly 35,400 bankruptcies. In April, the share was around one-quarter and the number was approximately 36,100, and it was 27 percent for 33,700 in May 2009.
ABI predicts consumer bankruptcy filings will exceed 1.6 million this year.
