In 1997, despite an economy that marked its sixth full year of uninterrupted expansion with the lowest jobless rate in a quarter century, the number of United States citizens declaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at 1.34 million.

• Adeclaring themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, at  
• Bdeclaring themselves bankrupt jumped by almost 20 percent, to  
• Cwho declared themselves bankrupt has jumped by almost 20 percent, to  
• Dwho declared themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at  
• Eto declare themselves bankrupt jumped almost by 20 percent, at