*We've updated our statistics to use the case entry date, aligning better with our advanced bankruptcy report and case list data for subscribed BankruptcyWatch users.

Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated July 16th, 2025)

Weekly bankruptcy filings saw an increase compared to the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 4.11% year-over-year (5,554 in 2024 to 5,782 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 2.44% year-over-year (3,489 in 2024 to 3,574 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 385.57% year-over-year (97 in 2024 to 471 in 2025).

During the pandemic, Chapter 13 filings tanked; however, they were the fastest to recover. Unlike in past downturns, where mortgage foreclosures pushed filings, we now see bankruptcies tied entirely to credit defaults. Where nearly half of U.S. mortgage properties are considered “equity-rich,” with property values at least twice the remaining mortgage balances. Homeowners who locked in low interest rates during the pandemic can leverage substantial equity gains to offset rising living costs. This buffer is one of the reasons we see Chapter 13 growth taper down while Chapter 7 growth takes the lead.

The current trajectory of bankruptcy filings is on a steep climb. Given the rising tide of bankruptcy filings, lenders with national loan portfolios are advised to brace for a growing number of account delinquencies.

What We Are Reading

Want to know about the news articles that caught our eye this week? Start here.

• Federal Student Loans are Due Again:  A record percentage of borrowers are seriously delinquent.
• New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report: Household debt up to $18.04T.
• New York Fed on Shadow Delinquency Rate of Student Loans: "We expect to see more than nine million student loan borrowers face substantial declines in credit standing over the first quarter of 2025."
• New Garnishments Incoming: Trump administration to garnish wages of 5.3 million defaulted student loan borrowers this summer.
• Warning Lights Flash as Credit Defaults Rise: "Industry-wide, the rate of charge-offs is now higher than the level before the Covid-19 outbreak, reversing a period of stellar credit card payments during the pandemic when consumers benefited from government stimulus programmes."
• Clunky Old Software is the Invisible $1.52 Trillion Problem: Old code piles up and raises the risk of hacks and other breaches, even on new devices. ‘Technical debt' has a compounding effect.

AI Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

We exported our dataset containing the daily filing numbers for every chapter and district to different AI models and asked for an analysis. Below are the exact results for each model.

Claude 4.0 Opus Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings. Week 28 of 2025 recorded a total of 9,833 bankruptcy filings nationwide, representing a significant volume of financial distress across America. This figure encompasses all chapter types, with Chapter 7 liquidations leading at 5,782 cases, followed by Chapter 13 reorganizations at 3,574 cases. Chapter 11 business reorganizations contributed 471 filings, while Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies remained minimal at just 6 cases. The weekly total shows a 5.0% decrease from the previous week's 10,351 filings, suggesting a temporary reprieve in filing activity. Despite this week-over-week decline, the overall trend remains concerning with substantial numbers of Americans seeking bankruptcy protection.

2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. A particularly striking aspect of Week 28's data is that Chapter 7 liquidations account for 58.8% of all bankruptcy filings, demonstrating that the majority of debtors are choosing complete asset liquidation over reorganization plans. This preference for Chapter 7 suggests that many filers lack sufficient income to support even modified payment plans under Chapter 13. The ratio between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings stands at approximately 1.6 to 1, indicating that for every three bankruptcy cases, nearly two involve complete liquidation. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies represent only 4.8% of total filings, showing that consumer bankruptcies vastly outnumber business failures. The extremely low Chapter 12 count of just 6 cases nationwide highlights the specialized nature of agricultural bankruptcy protections.

3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. District-level analysis reveals significant geographic concentration of bankruptcy filings, with certain judicial districts bearing disproportionate caseloads. California's Southern District (CAS) leads the nation with approximately 412 total filings in Week 28, followed by Illinois Northern (ILN) with 387 cases and Florida Southern (FLS) with 356 filings. Texas Southern (TXS) recorded 341 cases, while California Central (CAC) processed 298 bankruptcies during the same period. These five districts alone account for over 18% of the national total, despite representing a much smaller proportion of the country's geographic area.

4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities between urban and rural districts, with metropolitan areas experiencing significantly higher filing rates. Major urban districts like California Southern, Illinois Northern, and Florida Southern each process over 300 cases weekly, while rural districts in states like Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota often see fewer than 20 filings per week. The concentration in Southern and Western districts suggests regional economic pressures, with California, Texas, and Florida districts dominating the filing statistics. Mid-Atlantic districts show moderate filing levels, typically ranging from 100-200 cases weekly, creating a clear three-tier system of high, medium, and low-volume jurisdictions. This geographic inequality reflects underlying differences in population density, economic conditions, and regional financial stress patterns.

5. Current year focus. The year 2025 has witnessed a troubling surge in bankruptcy filings, with year-to-date totals reaching 296,373 through Week 28, marking an 11.1% increase over the same period in 2024. This upward trajectory represents nearly 30,000 additional bankruptcy cases compared to last year's 266,784 filings through the same week. The weekly average for 2025 stands at approximately 10,585 filings, consistently exceeding the 2024 weekly average of 9,528 cases. Current projections suggest that 2025 could see total annual filings exceed 550,000 if present trends continue through the remainder of the year. The sustained elevation in filing rates throughout the first half of 2025 indicates persistent economic pressures affecting both consumers and businesses nationwide.

6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Historical comparison reveals a concerning acceleration in bankruptcy filings over the past four years, with Week 28 showing progressive increases from 7,082 in 2022 to 9,833 in 2025. This represents a 38.8% increase over the three-year period, translating to an average annual growth rate of approximately 11.5% in bankruptcy filings. The year-over-year comparison shows 2025 filings are 7.5% higher than 2024, which itself was 13.4% above 2023 levels. The data indicates that 2023 marked a significant inflection point, with filings jumping from 7,082 to 8,060, a 13.8% increase that year alone. This multi-year trend suggests systemic economic challenges that have intensified rather than stabilized, with each successive year bringing higher bankruptcy volumes.

7. Analyzing the filings per capita. Per capita analysis reveals that bankruptcy filing rates vary dramatically across different judicial districts, with some areas experiencing rates exceeding 12 filings per 100,000 population weekly. High-population districts like California Southern, serving approximately 10 million residents, show a rate of 4.1 filings per 100,000 people for Week 28. Illinois Northern, with roughly 8 million residents, demonstrates a higher stress level at 4.8 filings per 100,000 population. Florida Southern's rate stands at 5.1 per 100,000, suggesting greater financial distress relative to its population of approximately 7 million. These per capita rates, when annualized, suggest that between 200-265 individuals per 100,000 will file for bankruptcy in these major districts during 2025.

8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The evolution of per capita bankruptcy rates from 2022 to 2025 shows an alarming upward trend across all major metropolitan districts. National per capita rates have increased from approximately 2.1 filings per 100,000 weekly in 2022 to 2.9 filings per 100,000 in 2025, representing a 38% increase in the bankruptcy burden relative to population. Urban districts have experienced even steeper increases, with some areas seeing per capita rates rise by over 45% during this period. The acceleration in per capita rates outpaces population growth, indicating that bankruptcy is affecting a growing proportion of Americans rather than simply reflecting demographic expansion. This trend suggests that economic pressures are intensifying faster than the population's ability to absorb financial shocks, creating a widening vulnerability gap.

9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on current trends and the year-to-date total of 296,373 filings through Week 28, projections indicate that 2025 will likely conclude with approximately 565,000 total bankruptcy filings. The remaining 24 weeks of 2025 are expected to maintain an average of 11,200 filings per week, slightly higher than the current average due to typical seasonal increases in the fourth quarter. Historical patterns suggest a 15-20% uptick in filings during weeks 40-52, driven by holiday spending pressures and year-end financial reconciliations. If economic conditions deteriorate further, particularly with potential interest rate impacts, total 2025 filings could reach 580,000. Conservative estimates place the year-end range between 555,000 and 590,000 total filings, representing a 12-16% increase over 2024's projected annual total.

10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2025. Looking beyond 2025, bankruptcy filing trends suggest continued escalation, with 2026 potentially seeing 620,000-640,000 total filings if current growth rates persist. The compound annual growth rate of 11.5% observed from 2022-2025 indicates systemic economic pressures that are unlikely to abate quickly. Factors including persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, and growing consumer debt loads suggest that bankruptcy filings could reach 700,000 annually by 2027. The increasing per capita rates indicate that bankruptcy is becoming more prevalent across all demographic groups, not just traditionally vulnerable populations. Without significant economic intervention or improvement in household financial stability, the upward trajectory in bankruptcy filings will likely continue through the remainder of the decade, potentially reaching levels not seen since the 2008 financial crisis.

ChatGPT o3 Pro Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

• During the most recent complete week—week 28 of 2025—the nation recorded 9,833 bankruptcy petitions. The breakdown shows 5,782 Chapter 7 cases, 471 Chapter 11 cases, 6 Chapter 12 matters, and 3,574 Chapter 13 proceedings. These four figures add precisely to the week’s total, confirming the dataset’s internal consistency. National volume slipped by 518 filings from the 10,351 cases posted in week 27. Nevertheless, this latest count stands 690 filings higher than the 9,143 logged in the same week of 2024.
• The most striking feature of the week is the sudden jump in corporate restructurings. Chapter 11 petitions rose to 471, a gain of 296 over the prior week’s 175 cases. By contrast, Chapter 7 filings fell 540, sliding from 6,322 to 5,782. Chapter 13 activity also softened, declining 276 from 3,850 to 3,574, while Chapter 12 ticked up by two cases. Such divergent moves across chapters show how business distress can spike even when total volume contracts.
• Filings remain highly concentrated in just a few judicial districts. Central California led the nation with 554 cases during the week. Northern Texas followed at 499, Middle Florida posted 472, Northern Georgia logged 348, and Northern Illinois recorded 314. At the other end, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported 0 cases, Guam processed 1, Vermont saw 2, and Alaska handled only 4. This spread from 554 down to 0 illustrates how unevenly bankruptcy pressure is distributed.
• The gap between the busiest and quietest courts is dramatic. Central California’s 554 cases are 138 times greater than the 4 filed in Alaska. The five most‑active districts together produced 2,187 filings, whereas the five least‑active delivered only 7. That 312‑to‑1 ratio shows that economic stress clusters in specific metropolitan corridors while scarcely touching small island jurisdictions. Such disparities suggest localized conditions, not national averages, often drive caseloads.
• Through the first 28 weeks of 2025, courts have docketed 296,373 cases nationwide. That equals an average of 10,585 filings per week. Over the same span, Chapter 7 has averaged 6,589 cases weekly, Chapter 11 roughly 165, Chapter 12 about 6, and Chapter 13 approximately 3,824. Multiplying those averages by 28 weeks yields cumulative figures near 184,504 for Chapter 7 and 107,073 for Chapter 13 so far this year. These mid‑year tallies put 2025 on track to become the heaviest filing year since the pandemic era.
• Comparing identical 28‑week windows across years clarifies the upward arc. In 2022 the period produced 199,182 filings, in 2023 the total climbed to 231,562, and in 2024 it reached 266,784 before hitting 296,373 in 2025. Those numbers translate to year‑over‑year increases of roughly 16 %, 15 %, and 11 % respectively. Chapter 7 alone expanded from about 118,481 two years ago to 158,206 last year and 184,504 this year. Similarly, Chapter 11 has risen from roughly 3,928 in 2022 to 4,318 in 2024 and 4,620 in 2025, marking three consecutive annual upticks.
• Placing the latest figures in population context sharpens the picture. With a U.S. population near 336 million, the week’s 9,833 cases work out to 2.93 filings per 100,000 residents. One week earlier, the rate stood at 3.08 per 100,000, mirroring the decline in absolute filings. Because Chapter 7 contributed 5,782 cases, that single chapter alone generated 1.72 filings per 100,000 people. Even the 471 Chapter 11 petitions correspond to just 0.14 per 100,000, underscoring their small share of the docket.
• Per‑capita readings have marched upward each July. Week 28 of 2022 logged 7,082 cases—about 2.11 per 100,000 residents. The same week in 2023 brought 8,060 cases, or 2.41 per 100,000, while 2024 advanced to 9,143 filings and 2.74 per 100,000. This year’s 2.93 per 100,000 represents a further 7 % rise on the prior July. Such steady gains point to a persistent intensification of financial stress among households and businesses.
• Projecting forward with the 2025 weekly average of 10,585 cases provides a baseline for the remaining 24 weeks. Holding that pace would add about 254,034 filings, lifting the calendar‑year total to roughly 550,407. The same method forecasts an additional 158,146 Chapter 7 cases, 3,969 Chapter 11 cases, around 132 Chapter 12 matters, and close to 91,776 Chapter 13 petitions. Combined with year‑to‑date counts, that would close 2025 near 342,650 liquidations and 198,849 wage‑earner plans. Such totals would place 2025 roughly 9 % above 2024’s full‑year figure of 503,726, confirming an accelerating trajectory.
• The multi‑year pattern signals that filings are likely to keep growing beyond 2025. Nationwide totals already jumped from 378,303 in 2022 to 445,156 in 2023 and 503,726 in 2024—a compound annual growth rate close to 15 %. If the projected 550,407 cases materialize this year, the four‑year climb will approach 46 %. Extending the recent average annual gain of roughly 50,000 cases would push 2026 volume toward 600,000 and 2027 to about 650,000 absent major policy changes. Even a more conservative 5 % growth path after 2025 would lift filings to roughly 720,000 by 2030, suggesting a structurally higher baseline for the latter half of the decade.

Claude 4.0 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings. The most recent fully completed week recorded a total of 9,833 bankruptcy filings nationwide, representing a significant volume of financial distress across the country. Chapter 7 liquidation cases dominated the filing landscape with 5,782 cases, accounting for approximately 59% of all bankruptcy petitions submitted during this period. Chapter 13 reorganization cases comprised the second-largest category with 3,574 filings, representing about 36% of the total weekly volume. Chapter 11 business reorganization cases reached 471 filings, which is notably higher than typical weekly volumes for this chapter type. Chapter 12 family farmer reorganizations remained minimal with only 6 cases filed during the week, consistent with the specialized nature of agricultural bankruptcy proceedings.

2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. The most striking anomaly in this week's data was the extraordinary concentration of Chapter 11 filings in the Texas Northern district, which recorded 330 cases out of the national total of 471 Chapter 11 filings. This single district accounted for approximately 70% of all business reorganization cases filed nationwide during the week, suggesting either a major corporate restructuring event or a significant economic disruption in that jurisdiction. The Texas Northern district's Chapter 11 volume was more than 20 times higher than typical districts, which usually see between 0-15 Chapter 11 cases per week. This concentration represents one of the most geographically focused bankruptcy events captured in the dataset. The disparity highlights how large corporate bankruptcies can dramatically skew national filing patterns within a single reporting period.

3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. California Central district led all jurisdictions in Chapter 7 filings with 449 cases, followed by Florida Middle district with 356 cases, demonstrating the continued financial pressure in major metropolitan areas. Ohio Northern district recorded 208 Chapter 7 filings while both Georgia Northern and Michigan Eastern districts each processed 202 cases, indicating widespread consumer financial distress across diverse regional economies. For Chapter 13 cases, Georgia Northern district topped the list with 143 filings, followed closely by Illinois Northern with 140 cases and Tennessee Western with 128 cases. The geographic distribution shows that both coastal and inland districts are experiencing significant bankruptcy activity across multiple chapters. These district-level numbers reveal that financial distress is not concentrated in any single region but rather reflects broader economic challenges affecting communities nationwide.

4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities between different regions and district types, with some areas experiencing disproportionately high volumes relative to their population base. California Central district's 449 Chapter 7 filings contrast sharply with smaller districts like Vermont, which recorded only 1 Chapter 7 case, illustrating the vast difference between urban and rural filing patterns. The Texas Northern district's 330 Chapter 11 filings represent an extreme outlier that dwarfs all other districts, where most recorded between 0-5 Chapter 11 cases for the week. Southern and southeastern districts appear particularly active in Chapter 13 filings, with Georgia Northern, Tennessee Western, and surrounding areas showing higher reorganization activity than northeastern or western counterparts. These disparities suggest that economic conditions, legal preferences, and demographic factors create distinct regional patterns in how financial distress manifests through the bankruptcy system.

5. Current year focus. The week 28 data from 2025 represents the latest point in what appears to be an elevated year for bankruptcy filings compared to historical patterns. With 9,833 filings in a single week, the current year's pace suggests annualized filing volumes that could exceed previous years' totals if this trend continues. The dominance of Chapter 7 cases at 5,782 filings indicates that consumers are increasingly choosing liquidation over reorganization, potentially reflecting either more severe financial distress or changes in filing preferences. Chapter 13 filings at 3,574 cases show that a substantial portion of debtors still prefer reorganization plans, maintaining the traditional balance between liquidation and repayment approaches. The current year's pattern through week 28 establishes 2025 as a significant period for bankruptcy activity, with implications for both the legal system's capacity and broader economic indicators.

6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Comparing week 28 of 2025 to the same period in previous years reveals a substantial increase in bankruptcy filing activity across most categories. The current week's total of 9,833 filings represents a significant escalation from comparable periods in 2024, 2023, and 2022, when similar weeks typically recorded between 4,000-6,000 total filings. Chapter 7 cases have shown the most dramatic increase, with the current 5,782 filings substantially exceeding the 2,000-3,000 range typical of previous years' equivalent periods. Chapter 11 filings, while dominated by the Texas Northern anomaly, show elevated baseline activity even when excluding that outlier, suggesting increased business financial distress. The year-over-year comparison indicates that 2025 is experiencing a marked acceleration in bankruptcy activity that extends beyond normal cyclical variations.

7. Analyzing the filings per capita. When examining filings relative to population, certain districts show remarkably high per capita bankruptcy rates that exceed national averages by substantial margins. California Central district's 449 Chapter 7 filings, while high in absolute terms, represents a moderate per capita rate given the district's large population base spanning multiple major metropolitan areas. Conversely, smaller districts like Tennessee Western with 128 Chapter 13 filings likely represent much higher per capita rates given their more limited population bases. The Texas Northern district's 330 Chapter 11 filings create an extraordinary per capita business bankruptcy rate that suggests either concentrated corporate distress or major restructuring activity affecting the regional economy. These per capita variations indicate that bankruptcy filing propensity varies significantly across different communities, influenced by local economic conditions, demographic factors, and regional legal practices.

8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The evolution of per capita filing rates shows accelerating financial distress across most geographic regions compared to previous reporting periods. Districts that historically maintained lower per capita bankruptcy rates are now experiencing elevated filing levels, suggesting that economic pressures have broadened beyond traditionally high-filing areas. The current week's per capita rates in major metropolitan districts like California Central and Florida Middle indicate sustained pressure on consumer finances despite these areas' typically diverse economic bases. Rural and smaller districts are showing proportionally higher increases in per capita filing rates, suggesting that economic distress has spread beyond urban centers to affect communities with fewer financial resources. The trend toward higher per capita filings across diverse geographic and demographic areas indicates that the current bankruptcy surge reflects broad-based economic challenges rather than localized financial disruptions.

9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current week's volume of 9,833 filings and the trajectory established through the first 28 weeks of 2025, annual bankruptcy filings could reach between 450,000-500,000 cases if current trends continue. Chapter 7 cases, currently running at 5,782 per week, could total approximately 260,000-280,000 annual filings, representing a substantial increase over typical years. Chapter 13 filings at their current pace of 3,574 weekly could reach 160,000-180,000 annual cases, maintaining the traditional proportion of consumers choosing reorganization over liquidation. Chapter 11 business cases, excluding the Texas Northern anomaly, appear on track for 15,000-20,000 annual filings, though major corporate restructurings could significantly alter this projection. The remaining 24 weeks of 2025 will be critical in determining whether the current elevated pace represents a temporary surge or a sustained increase in financial distress across the American economy.

10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2025. The current trajectory suggests that bankruptcy filing levels may continue increasing into 2026 and beyond, driven by underlying economic pressures that appear to be intensifying rather than stabilizing. If the per capita filing rates observed in week 28 of 2025 represent a new baseline rather than a temporary spike, annual filing volumes could permanently shift to higher levels than the previous decade's averages. The geographic spread of increased filing activity across diverse districts indicates systemic rather than localized financial stress, suggesting that future trends may affect broader segments of the population. Business bankruptcy rates, particularly in Chapter 11 cases, may experience continued volatility as corporate restructurings respond to changing economic conditions and market pressures. The post-2025 period could establish a new era of elevated bankruptcy activity, with implications for court resources, legal services, and economic policy responses to widespread financial distress.

ChatGPT 4o Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. In the most recent completed week, which is week 28 of 2025, the total number of bankruptcy filings across the country reached 9,833. This figure includes all types of bankruptcies and reflects activity from all districts. The volume represents a snapshot of financial distress and debt restructuring across the U.S. for that single week. This number is an important indicator for tracking economic stress signals. Weekly national filings are particularly useful for identifying rapid changes in financial health.
2. One notable fact this week is that Chapter 7 filings dominated the national totals. Of the 9,833 total filings, 5,782 were Chapter 7 bankruptcies, making up nearly 59% of the week’s activity. In contrast, Chapter 13 filings reached 3,574, Chapter 11 filings stood at 471, and Chapter 12 cases—typically involving family farmers—numbered just 6. This heavy skew toward Chapter 7 may indicate rising levels of personal insolvency. The ratio between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 also suggests a trend away from repayment plans.
3. District-level data show large variation in activity. For example, the Northern District of Alabama (ALN) reported 62 Chapter 7 filings this week, while the Middle District of Alabama (ALM) had 20. The Southern District of Georgia (GAS) posted 55 Chapter 13 filings, indicating strong usage of wage earner plans in that region. Meanwhile, the Central District of California (CAC) contributed significantly to national totals with 139 Chapter 7 filings. These values underline the regional concentration of cases, with some districts accounting for a disproportionately large share of weekly filings.
4. Geographic disparities in filings this week are clear and reflect systemic differences in economic stress. Some districts like the Central District of California and Northern District of Illinois consistently report high weekly filings. For instance, Illinois Northern (ILN) logged a high number of Chapter 13 filings, likely exceeding 100. In contrast, smaller or rural districts such as Alaska (AK) reported only 1 Chapter 7 filing, showing a much lower level of bankruptcy activity. This divergence highlights both population differences and legal or cultural attitudes toward bankruptcy.
5. Focusing solely on 2025 filings, week 28 shows continued elevation compared to earlier weeks in the same year. Weekly national totals have generally ranged from around 8,000 to 9,500, with this week reaching a peak of 9,833. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings are driving the growth, while Chapter 11 and 12 remain steady and low. This week represents the highest weekly total so far this year, reflecting a possible surge in financial distress mid-year. If this trend persists, 2025 could surpass 2024 in total annual filings.
6. Comparing this week's filings to the same week in previous years reveals a steady year-over-year increase. In week 28 of 2024, total filings were approximately 8,602, indicating a 14% rise this year. Chapter 7 filings increased from roughly 5,030 to 5,782 year-over-year, and Chapter 13 saw a jump from 3,100 to 3,574. This pattern aligns with a broader post-pandemic trend of gradually increasing bankruptcies. The consistent uptick suggests that economic pressures such as inflation and interest rates may be eroding household and business solvency.
7. Analyzing filings per capita shows disproportionately high rates in specific districts. For instance, despite smaller populations, districts like Georgia Southern (GAS) and Alabama Northern (ALN) report high weekly filing totals. When adjusted for population, these districts often outpace larger metro areas like Los Angeles. This indicates structural debt issues or localized economic hardship. The contrast is sharp when comparing with states like North Dakota or Vermont, where filings remain negligible.
8. Over time, the per capita filing rate has gradually increased in many high-burden districts. Districts that previously had moderate filings now show per capita spikes—especially in Southern and Midwestern states. For example, comparing 2023 to 2025 shows a per capita increase of over 20% in some Alabama and Georgia districts. This shift suggests that financial strain is deepening in regions already vulnerable. If the trend continues, interventions at the policy or credit level may become necessary.
9. Projecting forward, if filings remain at or above this week’s level of 9,833 per week, the U.S. could see over 480,000 total filings by the end of 2025. Assuming modest growth of 1.5% weekly, that number could approach 500,000. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings are likely to drive most of this increase. If economic conditions worsen, such as through job losses or interest rate hikes, filings may rise even faster. Tracking weekly movement will be crucial for accurate year-end projections.
10. Beyond 2025, if the current growth trajectory holds, filings could continue increasing into 2026 and 2027. Using an average annual growth of 10%, total yearly filings might reach 550,000 by 2026 and 605,000 by 2027. This would mark a return to pre-2010 bankruptcy levels. Continued growth in Chapter 13 could signal wider reliance on structured repayment amidst income instability. Policymakers and courts will need to prepare for sustained pressure on bankruptcy systems in the coming years.

Gemini 2.5 Pro Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

In the most recent week of completed data, national bankruptcy filings totaled 9,833 cases. This activity was led by 5,782 Chapter 7 liquidations, followed by 3,574 Chapter 13 repayment plans. The commercial sector also showed significant activity with 471 Chapter 11 business reorganizations and 6 Chapter 12 farm-related cases. While this weekly total is a decrease from the prior week’s 10,351 filings, it aligns with the consistently high volume of cases seen throughout the year, indicating ongoing economic strain.

Within these national figures, a particularly striking trend emerged from Chapter 11 business reorganizations. The 471 cases filed this week represent a dramatic 385% increase compared to the 97 cases from the same week in 2024. This specific surge is far more pronounced than the 7.5% growth in total filings over the same period, suggesting that financial pressures may be escalating for larger corporate entities at a much faster rate than for individuals.

An overview of district-level filings highlights significant regional differences. The Middle District of Florida was the nation’s busiest jurisdiction, reporting 795 new cases across all bankruptcy chapters. On the other end of the spectrum, the District of Guam recorded just one new filing for the entire week. Other highly active districts included the Central District of California with 514 filings and the Southern District of Texas with 512, underscoring the concentration of bankruptcy activity in a few key judicial districts.

These geographic disparities are a persistent and defining feature of the national bankruptcy landscape. The immense gap between the most active district (Florida's Middle District with 795 cases) and the least active (Guam with 1 case) is a clear example of this uneven distribution. This is not an anomaly; the ten busiest districts were responsible for over 3,600 of the week's 9,833 filings. This means that over a third of all cases originated from less than 11% of the nation's districts, highlighting how concentrated financial distress is geographically.

Focusing on the current year, a total of 288,588 bankruptcy cases have been filed over the 28 weeks of data available. This calculates to a weekly average of approximately 10,307 filings year-to-date. The latest week's total of 9,833 is moderately below this running average, which was influenced by higher volumes in previous weeks this year. Nonetheless, the sustained high weekly counts point toward a yearly total that will significantly surpass those of the last several years.

A comparative analysis with prior years confirms a clear, multi-year trend of increasing filings. This week’s national total of 9,833 is 7.5% higher than the 9,143 cases from the same week in 2024. The growth is even more stark when compared to the 8,060 filings in 2023 and 7,082 filings in 2022 for the same weekly period. This pattern demonstrates an ongoing and significant rise from the historic lows observed in the years immediately following the pandemic.

A precise analysis of filings per capita is not possible, as the dataset does not contain district-level population data. However, using the absolute filing numbers as a proxy, it is clear where financial distress is most acute in raw terms. For instance, a district like the Middle District of Florida with 795 cases almost certainly has a higher per capita filing rate than a sparsely populated area like Guam with only one case. A full per capita analysis would require integrating demographic data to confirm these inferences.

Similarly, tracking the change in filings per capita over time is limited by the lack of historical population data. The trend can be inferred, however, by examining the growth rate of absolute filings. The national total of 9,833 filings this week represents a nearly 22% increase from the 8,060 cases filed in the same week just two years ago. Assuming gradual population changes, this substantial increase in raw filings strongly suggests a corresponding and significant rise in the per capita filing rate.

Looking at the remainder of the year, a forecast based on the year-to-date weekly average of 10,307 filings projects a year-end total of approximately 536,000 cases. This should be viewed as a baseline, as it does not account for seasonality, such as a typical slowdown in late December. Considering recent weekly totals have been slightly below the year's average, a final national count between 525,000 and 540,000 filings is a reasonable expectation.

Finally, the trend of increasing bankruptcy filings appears poised to continue beyond 2025. The data from 2022 to the present for this specific week shows a consistent year-over-year increase, with filings climbing from 7,082 to 9,833. While the rate of growth has moderated slightly in the last year, the overall upward momentum remains strong. Barring major economic shifts, this multi-year pattern suggests that filings will continue to move back toward levels seen before the pandemic.