The number of corporate bankruptcies rose 15.8 percent in July from a year earlier to 1,814, marking a postwar record for the month and the first increase in three months, Teikoku Databank Ltd. said Wednesday.

The number of insolvent companies surpassed the 1,800 line for the first time in eight months, marking the worst monthly figure this year, the private credit-research agency said.

Liabilities left by the failed firms soared 61.1 percent from a year earlier to 1.204 trillion yen, the third-highest postwar figure, the agency said.