Live Florida

There were 35,264 filings in Florida in April, up 17 percent from March and up 146 percent from April last year.

The metro area that includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater saw a 9 percent increase in filings in April, when compared with the previous month, and a 120 percent increase compared with the same month in 2007.

Florida’s results were a little better than last month, though, when it ranked third worst in March. In April, Florida was edged out by Arizona for the dubious distinction. Nevada and California were first and second, respectively.

So far speculators calling a bottom have been proving wrong. Data in the next few months will pretty much tell everyone if the trend is going to continue, or if an improvement lies on the horizon.