Dates to Remember

The Rise of Personal Bankruptcy

Oct. 24, 2006, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
(breakfast buffet meeting)

Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark,
One South Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102

The number of personal bankruptcies in the United States has been escalating dramatically in the past 25 years. For most, declaring bankruptcy happens after an unexpected financial shock, such as divorce or medical bills, coupled with high levels of debt.

Thomas A. Garrett, research officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, will discuss his study on the role other factors—such as availability of credit, bankruptcy laws and decreased consumer savings—play in making Americans even more susceptible to bankruptcy. Garrett also will present detailed statistics for counties in the Fed’s Eighth District.

Judge Barry S. Schermer of the U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit will speak about bankruptcy legislation passed in 2005 and about who is filing for bankruptcy.

For information, contact Cynthia Davis at 314-444-8761. To register online, visit www.stlouisfed.org/community/conferences.html