TEL AVIV (MarketWatch) -- U.S. foreclosure filings in 2008 rose 81% from 2007 and tripled from 2006, RealtyTrac reported on Thursday. A total of nearly 3.16 million foreclosure filings -- measured by default notices, auction-sale notices, and bank repossessions -- were reported in 2008. The Irvine, Calif., consultant also said that 1.84% of all U.S. housing units --1 of every 54 -- received at least one foreclosure filing during the year, up from 1.03% in 2007. In December, foreclosure filings were reported on more than 303,000 U.S. properties. That's up 17% from November and 41% from the year-earlier month, RealtyTrac reported. In the fourth quarter, foreclosure activity rose 40% from the year-earlier quarter. "Clearly the foreclosure-prevention programs implemented to date have not had any real success in slowing down this foreclosure tsunami," Chief Executive Officer James J. Saccacio said in a statement.