Tokyo, March 14 (Bloomberg) -- Japanese corporate bankruptciesrose for the first time in three months in February, as morewholesalers and construction companies went bust. Corporate failures rose 2.3 percent last month from a year ago to1,460, said Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd., a credit research company.Liabilities left by bankrupt companies fell 4.9 percent to 1.13 trillionyen ($9.46 billion). The rise in bankruptcies comes as banks become stricter aboutlending, and the slowing economy forces more firms out of business.New accounting rules may also put more pressure on lenders topush shaky companies over the edge. ``The concern is that with the acceleration of write offs, the number ofbankruptcies is expected to rise substantially in coming months,''said Akio Yoshino, senior economist at SG Yamaichi AssetManagement. Rising bankruptcies force more people out of work and hurtsconsumer sentiment, though the culling of inefficient businesses isseen as a necessary step to promote lasting economic growth. Thejobless rate held steady at a record high 4.9 percent in January. Bankruptcies among construction companies rose 4.4 percent from ayear ago to 479, the highest among the industries surveyed.Insolvencies at wholesalers were up 7.5 percent from a year earlier. Phoenix Resort Ltd., which ran the Seagaia Resort, the venue of lastyear's meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations,filed for bankruptcy with liabilities of about 2.8 trillion yen. FKC Ltd. filed for bankruptcy with liabilities of 30.5 billion yen,accounting for most of the 55.7 billion yen debt left behind bybankrupt financial and insurance companies.