Seems like going bust is the only growth industry

HARRISBURG - Bankruptcies in Pennsylvania shot up more than 10 percent over the past year, as a vicious mix of stagnant hiring, mounting credit-card debt and rising mortgage payments spurred financial struggles.

Federal figures released yesterday showed that 31,494 Pennsylvania residents and businesses sought bankruptcy protection in the 12 months ending June 30. The figure rose more than 12 percent over the bankruptcy filings during the 12 months prior to that, although that rate paled next to the increase nationally of 29 percent.

Samuel Gerdano, of the American Bankruptcy Institute, said that he expects the rate of filings to increase through the end of the year, and hit 1 million total in 2008.

Patrick O'Connor, a bankruptcy lawyer in suburban Harrisburg, said that credit-card debt is mounting, especially as some credit-card companies demand higher minimum payments.

In addition, more people are fleeing into Chapter 13 to buy more time to catch up on past-due mortgage payments, O'Connor said.

Others are struggling to pay for hospital bills or make payments on investment properties, and O'Connor said he expects bankruptcy filings to continue to rise. *