Downplaying the fact of bankruptcies by this article does not change the fact that they are still happening. Insead of a national average comparison how about a comparison of income to debt ratio? With Utah debt on the rise and income and wages on the decline it is no surprise with the increase in bankruptcies, even with the changes in the law this seems an excessive rise. Utah is a good investment for business because of all the illegal labor that is abundent and government subsidized but it is bad economics for the citizens and their families. The real citizens are the ones suffering and being victimezed and losing all they have tried to gain. The illegals have thousands of dollars of unreported income every year yet they are still fed and housed by our elected officials, just to give business cheap labor and undermine the americans in the labor market. Utah should be sued for hiding and harboring the illegal population and its underground society in Utah. If Utahn's could get a decent wage the statistics and bankruptcies would not be so high. It's good business and good government to stand up and protect its citizens against foreign nationals.

Another Republican solution working. Most bankruptcies are because of medical bills. This is one way American get suck paying for earth's most expensive medical care.

more irresponsible consumer spending.

I am befuddled the rest of the nation is heading towards a recession;chances of buying a home is nil. Yet Utah continues to paint a picture of a robust economy and things are great.

When everyone in Utah has to have a $60,000 SUV and a $400,000 house, what's the big surprise. Outside of medical expensis most people who file bankruptcy are not poor.. It's the middle class that want what they don't need and the greed just gets too much to handle. Look for many more to come.

Bob G: I'm the last one to defend the illegals, but if Utahns would stop spending more than they make the statistics and bankruptcies would not be so high, regardless of the wage. It's not rocket science.

A clarification: The authors generalizaton re Chapter 7 filings which reportedly "result in the sale of all assets" is incorrect. All states (and the fed bankruptcy code) either contain or have exemption statutues.Generally, debtors are allowed to retain designated exempt property (assets). Also, debtors can reaffirm debts and retain autos and other secured consumer goods. And, in some cases debtors abandon (secured) property back to lenders who "own" the property or collateral. Again, in this third circumstance, "all assets" are not sold. It's estimated that some 90% of all chapter 7 filings are labeled NO ASSET cases. Unsecured creditors do NOT file claims and generally NO money is paid to unsecured creditors in these cases. Secured creditors either have their debt reaffirmed, get their depreciated property back, get part of their debt obligation repaid, or get nothing back. If any party is paid, it's the chapter 7 trustee and the debtor's attorney. It's mostly a rare case when assets are sold that(general unsecured)creditors are paid. It's a rarer circumstance that a "sale of all assets" occurs.