The number of companies going into liquidation or receivership last month reached a high for 2008.
A total of 560 companies were liquidated and 34 put into receivership in December, compared to 343 companies in the same month, in 2007.
The Ministry of Economic Development says 3138 companies were liquidated or put in receivership in the six months to December - a rise of 41% over the number in the same period in 2007.
