Christian E. Weller, a senior economist for the Center for American Progress, a research group based in Washington, D.C., said Utah's high rate can be traced in part to lower-than-average per capita disposable income levels. In 2003, Utah was the fourth-lowest state in per capita disposable income at $12,392.

Typically, Weller said, states with higher income levels and higher rates of medical insurance coverage show lower bankruptcy rates.

"I don't know whether there's anything relating to the sociological or cultural as to why Utah was different than other states," Matthews said. "I have no reason to believe that divorces, getting sick, paying tithing (to a church) or having more kids or any of that kind of stuff has changed much, and so I would attribute most of the bankruptcy downturn just to the turnaround in economic activity."

The Federal Reserve reported last week that consumer credit contracted at an annual rate of 5 percent in November. That, combined with fewer credit card defaults, is slowing bankruptcy filings nationally, according to ABI.

"In the third quarter of 2004, the credit card default and charge-off rates declined as against the previous quarter," the ABI report said. "This suggests a continued decline, or at least leveling, of the bankruptcy filing rate through the end of 2004."

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