News release: “The total number of U.S. bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2009 increased 36 percent over the same six month period in 2008, according to data released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Total filings reached 711,550 during the first half of the calendar year of 2009 (January 1-June 30), compared to 522,205 cases filed over the same period in 2008…Business filings for the six-month period ending June 30, 2009, totaled 30,333, representing a 64 percent increase over the first-half 2008 total of 18,456. Chapter 11 business reorganizations increased 113 percent to 7,396 during the first half of 2009 from 3,470 in the same period of 2008. Chapter 7 business liquidations increased to 20,375 in the first half of 2009, a 57 percent increase over the 13,002 business chapter 7 filings during the same period in 2008.”