Consumer bankruptcies in South Florida surged last month, up 83 percent from a year ago and nearly 10 percent from August.

By comparison, consumer bankruptcy filings nationally climbed 28.6 percent from a year ago, according to data compiled by the National Bankruptcy Research Center and released by the American Bankruptcy Institute.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida reported 1,758 consumer filings in September compared with 961 in the same period last year. In August, 1,601 personal bankruptcies were filed.

More than three-quarters of the personal filings were Chapter 7 cases, which allow consumers to discharge most of their debts.

Meanwhile, 121 businesses in South Florida filed for bankruptcy last month versus 73 in September 2007 -- an increase of 66 percent. The court reported 99 businesses filed for Chapter 7 liquidation last month, compared with 52 in the same period last year.

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