*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 24th, 2025)

Weekly bankruptcy filings saw a double-digit increase compared to the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 12.03% year-over-year (5,893 in 2024 to 6,602 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 10.49% year-over-year (3,538 in 2024 to 3,909 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 51.88% year-over-year (133 in 2024 to 202 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

• Overview of this week's National filings. The latest fully completed week (week 29 of 2025) recorded 10,717 total bankruptcy filings nationwide. This represents a significant weekly volume that continues the elevated filing trends observed throughout 2025. Chapter 7 personal liquidation cases dominated with 6,602 filings, accounting for 61.6% of all cases filed during the week. Chapter 13 reorganization cases came in second with 3,909 filings (36.5%), while Chapter 11 business reorganizations totaled 202 cases (1.9%). Chapter 12 farm reorganizations remained minimal with just 4 filings, reflecting the specialized nature of agricultural bankruptcy proceedings.
• An interesting fact about this week's filings. Week 29 of 2025 shows a remarkable 12.0% increase compared to the same week in 2024, when 9,565 filings were recorded. This marks the fourth consecutive year of increases for week 29, rising from 7,450 in 2022 to 8,577 in 2023, then 9,565 in 2024, and now 10,717 in 2025. The steady annual growth pattern suggests a compounding effect of economic pressures rather than a sudden crisis. Interestingly, the 10,717 weekly total falls slightly below the recent peak of 11,907 filings in week 26, indicating some volatility in weekly filing patterns. This week's total represents approximately 2% of the projected annual volume, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the year.
• An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Central District of California led all districts with 593 total filings during week 29, followed closely by the Middle District of Florida with 501 filings. The Northern District of Illinois recorded 454 filings, while the Northern District of Georgia reported 349 cases. Other high-volume districts included the Eastern District of Michigan (278 filings), Southern District of Florida (276), New Jersey (272), Northern District of Ohio (251), and Southern District of Texas (251). The Southern District of Indiana rounded out the top ten with 248 filings. These ten districts alone accounted for approximately 32% of all national filings, highlighting the concentration of bankruptcy activity in major metropolitan areas.
• Geographic (district) disparities in filings. Geographic disparities in bankruptcy filings remain pronounced, with California's Central District recording 593 filings while smaller districts like Wyoming reported fewer than 20 cases. The concentration of filings in populous states like California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas reflects both population density and regional economic conditions. Southern and Midwestern districts generally showed higher filing rates relative to their populations compared to Mountain West regions. Urban districts consistently outpaced rural districts, with major metropolitan areas accounting for the bulk of Chapter 11 business reorganizations. The coastal states demonstrated particularly high filing volumes, with California and Florida districts combining for over 1,300 filings, representing more than 12% of the national total.
• Current year focus. Through the first 29 weeks of 2025, bankruptcy filings have totaled approximately 309,000 cases, maintaining a pace that would result in over 555,000 filings for the full year. The weekly average of 10,655 filings in 2025 represents a substantial increase from 2024's comparable period average. Recent weeks show some volatility, with filings ranging from 10,002 in week 28 to 11,907 in week 26, but the overall trend remains consistently elevated. Chapter 7 liquidations continue to dominate, maintaining approximately 62% of all filings throughout 2025. The sustained high volume suggests that households and businesses continue to struggle with debt burdens despite broader economic indicators.
• Comparative analysis with previous years. The progression from 7,450 filings in week 29 of 2022 to 10,717 in week 29 of 2025 represents a 43.8% increase over just three years. Year-to-date filings through week 29 of 2025 are running approximately 11.5% ahead of the same period in 2024. This acceleration in filing rates exceeds the more modest 11.6% growth observed between 2023 and 2024 for the same period. The 2024 full-year total of approximately 481,000 filings is on track to be surpassed by over 74,000 cases in 2025 if current trends continue. The consistent year-over-year growth since 2022 suggests systemic financial stress rather than temporary economic disruption.
• Analyzing the filings per capita. With the U.S. population at approximately 335 million, the 10,717 weekly filings translate to roughly 32 bankruptcy cases per million people. Annualized, this suggests approximately 1,656 filings per million population, or about 1 in every 604 Americans filing for bankruptcy protection in 2025. High-filing districts like Central California, with 593 weekly cases serving a population of roughly 19 million, show rates of 31 per million weekly, close to the national average. However, districts like Middle Florida, with 501 filings for a smaller population base of approximately 5 million, demonstrate significantly higher per capita rates at 100 per million weekly. These per capita disparities highlight how regional economic conditions can dramatically impact individual financial distress beyond simple population effects.
• Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The per capita bankruptcy rate has increased from approximately 22 filings per million people weekly in 2022 to the current 32 per million, representing a 45% increase in the population-adjusted filing rate. This outpaces population growth of roughly 1.5% over the same period, indicating that bankruptcy risk is rising faster than demographic changes alone would suggest. Urban districts have seen per capita rates increase by 40-50%, while rural districts show more modest 20-30% increases, widening the geographic disparity. The rising per capita rate particularly affects working-age populations, with Chapter 7 personal bankruptcies showing the steepest per capita increases. If current trends continue, the 2025 per capita bankruptcy rate will reach levels not seen since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
• Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current pace of 10,655 average weekly filings through week 29, the remaining 23 weeks of 2025 are projected to add approximately 245,000 filings. This would bring the full-year 2025 total to approximately 554,000 filings, representing a 15.2% increase over 2024's 481,000 total. Weekly filing volumes typically increase slightly in the fall months, suggesting the actual total could approach 560,000-565,000 filings. Chapter 7 filings are expected to maintain their 62% share, resulting in approximately 348,000 personal liquidation cases for the full year. The fourth quarter alone could see over 140,000 filings if historical seasonal patterns hold, making it potentially the highest-volume quarter in recent years.
• Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. The consistent growth trajectory from 2022 through 2025 suggests bankruptcy filings could reach 625,000-650,000 by 2026 if the current 12-15% annual growth rate persists. This would represent a return to pre-pandemic filing levels, as bankruptcies had been suppressed during 2020-2021 by government stimulus and forbearance programs. Economic headwinds including persistent inflation, higher interest rates, and exhausted household savings indicate the upward trend will likely continue through 2026. The Chapter 11 business bankruptcy share may increase from the current 1.9% as commercial real estate stress and corporate debt refinancing challenges intensify. Without significant economic improvement or policy intervention, annual bankruptcy filings could approach 700,000 by 2027, levels not seen since the 2010 post-recession period.

ChatGPT o3 Pro Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

• The United States recorded 10 ,717 bankruptcy petitions in the most recently completed week 29 of 2025. Of these, 6 ,602 fell under chapter 7, 202 under chapter 11, 4 under chapter 12, and 3 ,909 under chapter 13. This mix makes liquidation cases 61.6 % of the week’s activity, with wage‑earner reorganizations adding 36.5 % and all other chapters together supplying just 1.9 %. Week 29 is therefore the busiest single week of 2025 so far. It also represents the first time this year that total weekly filings have exceeded the 10 ,700 mark.
• A striking fact is the sheer week‑to‑week surge: the 10 ,717 filings eclipse the prior week’s 10 ,002 by 715 cases, a jump of 7.1 %. The rise was carried by liquidation and consumer reorganization work—chapter 7 grew 713 cases (from 5 ,889 to 6 ,602) and chapter 13 gained 275 (from 3 ,634 to 3 ,909). By contrast, chapter 11 petitions actually fell sharply from 473 to 202. Only three other weeks in the past four years have posted a national gain of more than 700 filings in seven days. Such volatility underscores the sensitivity of filings to short‑term economic or legal triggers.
• District‑level figures show that the Central District of California submitted 593 cases, the Middle District of Florida 501, Northern Illinois 454, Northern Georgia 349, and Eastern Michigan 278. Collectively, these five jurisdictions generated 2 ,175 filings, or 20.3 % of the national total. No other single district topped 275 cases. The concentration of activity in large metropolitan regions is unmistakable. It hints at localized economic stress that exceeds national averages.
• At the low end, North Dakota logged just 5 cases, Alaska 6, Vermont 8, Maine 9, and Wyoming 9. Consequently, Central California processed 118 times as many petitions as North Dakota (593 ÷ 5). The five quietest districts together accounted for only 37 filings, a mere 0.3 % of the national count. This geographic imbalance places the heaviest burden on select courts while leaving others almost idle. Persistently uneven filing patterns suggest that local conditions and debtor attitudes play a decisive role in bankruptcy utilization.
• Through 29 weeks, 2025 is averaging 10 ,595 filings per week, yielding an estimated 307 ,255 cases year‑to‑date (10 ,595 × 29). The weekly average is 1 ,066 higher than the comparable 2024 average of 9 ,529. Liquidations are powering the gain, averaging 6 ,595 per week in 2025 versus 5 ,762 in 2024. Chapter 13 sits near 3 ,675 per week, while chapter 11 hovers around 320. At this clip, 2025 is shaping up to be the most active filing year since the post‑recession highs of 2010.
• Comparing the same week across four years reveals an unmistakable upward slope: 7 ,450 filings in 2022, 8 ,577 in 2023, 9 ,565 in 2024, and 10 ,717 in 2025. That sequence adds up to 44.0 % growth in just three summers. Chapter 7 climbed from 4 ,421 to 5 ,893 and now 6 ,602, while chapter 13 rose from 2 ,984 to 3 ,538 and now 3 ,909. The expansion is thus broad‑based rather than confined to any single chapter. Historical comparisons confirm a steady, not episodic, escalation.
• On a population basis, the latest figure equates to 31.6 filings per million residents (10 ,717 ÷ 339 million × 1 million). The preceding week’s rate was 29.5 per million, and the same week last year sat at 28.2 per million. Despite the rise, today’s level remains well below the 2010 peak of roughly 50 per million. Chapter 7 alone contributes 19.5 per million this week. Chapter 13 adds another 11.5 per million, leaving a sliver for the farm and large‑business chapters.
• The week‑to‑week increase of 2.1 filings per million (31.6 − 29.5) is the steepest single‑week per‑capita climb of 2025. Year on year, the gain is 3.4 per million (31.6 − 28.2), or 12.1 %. For the broader period, the 2025 average stands at 31.3 per million, versus 28.1 per million in 2024. Chapter 7’s per‑capita contribution has risen about 14 % since January, against a mid‑single‑digit rise for chapter 13. Unless there is a pronounced autumn slowdown, the country will close 2025 with its highest per‑capita bankruptcy load in more than a decade.
• Extrapolating the 10 ,595‑case weekly average over the 23 remaining weeks suggests an additional 243 ,693 filings (10 ,595 × 23) before year‑end. Adding that to the current 307 ,255 brings the projected 2025 total to roughly 550 ,958 cases. Such a sum would exceed 2024’s full‑year volume by more than 50 ,000. The projection assumes a flat trajectory; if the recent upward momentum persists, the total will be even higher. Conversely, a reversion to last year’s pace would lop roughly 10 % off the forecast.
• Over the 2022–2025 span, total filings have grown at an annualized 12.9 % rate ((10 ,717 ÷ 7 ,450)^(1/3) − 1). Chapter 7’s 2 ,181‑case leap translates to a 14.8 % annualized gain, and chapter 13’s 925‑case rise implies 9.4 %. Maintaining the current 11.2 % year‑to‑date growth would put early‑2026 weekly volumes near 12 ,000. That would boost the per‑capita rate to roughly 35 filings per million, still below recession‑era peaks but clearly rising. Stakeholders should therefore plan for national filing activity to remain 10–15 % heavier than 2024 through at least mid‑2026.

Claude 4.0 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

• Overview of this week's National filings: Week 29 of 2025 recorded a total of 10,717 bankruptcy filings nationwide, representing a solid week of activity in the federal court system. This total reflects a 7.1% increase from the previous week's 10,002 filings, indicating continued upward momentum in bankruptcy case initiations. Chapter 7 liquidation cases dominated the filing landscape with 6,602 cases, accounting for 61.6% of all filings for the week. Chapter 13 individual reorganization cases contributed 3,909 filings or 36.5% of the total, while Chapter 11 business reorganizations added 202 cases representing 1.9% of weekly activity. The minimal Chapter 12 family farm and fisherman filings totaled just 4 cases, consistent with the specialized nature of this bankruptcy category.
• An interesting fact about this week's filings: The most striking aspect of week 29's filing data is the remarkable 12.0% year-over-year growth compared to the same week in 2024, when 9,565 filings were recorded. This represents the continuation of a multi-year upward trend, as week 29 in 2023 saw 8,577 filings and week 29 in 2022 recorded 7,450 cases. The current week's total of 10,717 filings means that in just three years, the same week has seen a 43.9% increase in bankruptcy activity. Chapter 7 filings particularly drove this growth, suggesting ongoing financial distress among individual debtors seeking immediate debt relief. The consistency of this year-over-year growth pattern indicates structural economic pressures rather than temporary seasonal fluctuations.
• Overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers: The Central District of California led all federal districts with 593 bankruptcy filings in week 29, reflecting the ongoing financial challenges in this populous region encompassing Los Angeles and surrounding areas. The Middle District of Florida followed with 501 filings, while the Northern District of Illinois recorded 454 cases, demonstrating significant bankruptcy activity in major metropolitan areas. The Northern District of Georgia contributed 349 filings, and the Eastern District of Michigan added 278 cases to complete the top five most active districts. Regional powerhouses including the Southern District of Florida (276 filings), New Jersey (272 filings), the Northern District of Ohio (251 filings), the Southern District of Texas (251 filings), and the Southern District of Indiana (248 filings) rounded out the ten most active districts for the week.
• Geographic (district) disparities in filings: The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities across federal judicial districts, with the highest-filing district recording 593 cases while the lowest managed only 5 filings. This represents a disparity ratio of nearly 119:1 between the most and least active districts, highlighting the concentration of financial distress in major population centers. California's Central District alone accounted for 5.5% of all national filings in week 29, while several smaller districts contributed less than 0.1% each to the weekly total. The top ten districts collectively processed 3,581 filings, representing 33.4% of all national bankruptcy activity despite comprising fewer than 10% of the total federal judicial districts. This concentration pattern reflects both population density differences and varying regional economic conditions affecting debt sustainability across different parts of the country.
• Current year focus: Through week 29 of 2025, the bankruptcy system has processed 307,265 total filings, maintaining a robust pace that suggests continued economic stress among American consumers and businesses. The year-to-date average of approximately 10,595 filings per week demonstrates consistency in bankruptcy activity, with week 29's total of 10,717 filings running slightly above this average. Chapter 7 cases continue to dominate 2025 filings, reflecting the preference for immediate debt discharge among financially distressed individuals and small businesses. The current year's filing pattern shows sustained demand for bankruptcy relief, with weekly totals consistently remaining in the five-figure range throughout the year. Based on the consistent weekly averages, 2025 appears positioned to exceed 2024's total of 503,726 filings, indicating ongoing financial pressures in the American economy.
• Comparative analysis with previous years: Week 29 of 2025 demonstrates the continuation of a concerning multi-year growth trend in bankruptcy filings, with the current year's 10,717 weekly total representing a 44% increase over the same week in 2022. The steady year-over-year progression from 7,450 filings in week 29 of 2022 to 8,577 in 2023, then 9,565 in 2024, and finally 10,717 in 2025 shows an accelerating pace of financial distress. This three-year trajectory reflects an average annual growth rate of approximately 13% in bankruptcy activity for this specific week, suggesting persistent economic headwinds affecting American households and businesses. The 2025 year-to-date total of 307,265 filings already represents 61% of 2024's full-year total of 503,726 cases, indicating that 2025 will likely set a new record for annual bankruptcy filings. The consistency of this growth pattern across multiple years suggests structural rather than cyclical factors are driving increased bankruptcy activity.
• Analyzing the filings per capita: While precise per-capita calculations require current population estimates, the geographic concentration of filings provides insight into relative bankruptcy rates across different regions of the country. California's Central District, despite serving one of the most populous regions, still recorded a disproportionately high 593 filings, suggesting elevated per-capita bankruptcy rates in major metropolitan areas. The contrast between highly populated districts like the Central District of California and smaller jurisdictions like North Dakota (5 filings) indicates that population density alone does not explain filing disparities. Economic factors including cost of living, employment stability, and regional industry health appear to drive per-capita filing rates more significantly than raw population numbers. Districts serving economically distressed regions or those with high costs of living consistently show elevated filing rates relative to their population base, suggesting that local economic conditions significantly influence individual bankruptcy decisions.
• Analyzing the changing filings per capita: The 12% year-over-year increase in week 29 filings suggests that per-capita bankruptcy rates are rising faster than population growth, indicating worsening financial conditions for American consumers. The multi-year growth pattern from 7,450 filings in week 29 of 2022 to 10,717 in 2025 represents a trend that significantly outpaces U.S. population growth of approximately 0.5% annually. This disparity indicates that individual financial distress is intensifying, with a growing percentage of the population turning to bankruptcy protection each year. Regional variations in this per-capita growth are evident, as traditionally stable districts are showing increased filing activity while historically high-filing districts continue to see accelerated case volumes. The sustained nature of this per-capita increase across multiple years suggests that underlying economic pressures are affecting a broader segment of the population than in previous periods.
• Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year: Based on the current eight-week average of 10,707 filings per week and 23 weeks remaining in 2025, the bankruptcy system can expect approximately 246,261 additional filings for the remainder of the year. This projection, combined with the year-to-date total of 307,265 filings, suggests that 2025 will conclude with approximately 553,517 total bankruptcy cases. This forecast represents a 9.9% increase over 2024's total of 503,726 filings, continuing the multi-year upward trend in bankruptcy activity. The projected total would establish 2025 as a record year for bankruptcy filings, surpassing previous highs and reflecting ongoing economic pressures on American consumers and businesses. Seasonal factors typically show increased filing activity in the fall months, suggesting that the actual 2025 total may exceed this conservative projection based on recent weekly averages.
• Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024: The trajectory of bankruptcy filings beyond 2024 points toward continued growth, with 2025 already demonstrating a 12% increase in comparable weekly totals and positioning for a record-breaking annual total. If current growth rates persist, 2026 could see bankruptcy filings approach 600,000 cases annually, representing a significant increase from historical norms and indicating systemic financial stress in the American economy. The consistency of year-over-year growth across multiple districts and filing categories suggests that this trend reflects broader economic structural issues rather than temporary regional factors. Economic indicators including rising consumer debt levels, housing affordability challenges, and employment instability support projections of continued bankruptcy growth through the remainder of the decade. Without significant policy interventions or economic improvements, the bankruptcy system should prepare for sustained high-volume caseloads that may require additional judicial resources and administrative capacity to manage effectively.

ChatGPT 4o Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

• This week’s national filings reached a total of 10,717, as reported for week 29 of 2025. Among these, Chapter 7 filings accounted for 6,602, Chapter 13 for 3,909, Chapter 11 for 202, and Chapter 12 for 4 filings. This total reflects the combined activity of all U.S. districts and bankruptcy chapters and represents the most up-to-date complete weekly snapshot. The numbers reflect a continuing upward trend observed throughout the current year. This is a significant volume, demonstrating robust activity across multiple chapters.
• A particularly interesting fact about this week’s filings is that Chapter 7 continues to dominate, with 6,602 filings, comprising more than 61% of the national total. In contrast, Chapter 11 filings remain relatively rare, with only 202 instances nationally. Notably, Chapter 12 filings are extremely low, with only 4 recorded, suggesting limited bankruptcy pressure on family farmers or fishermen. The gap between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 (which logged 3,909 filings) indicates a clear preference for liquidation over debt reorganization. This pattern underscores how household or business financial stress may be driving quicker exit strategies.
• District-level data shows striking variability in filing volumes. For instance, California Central (CHAPTER_7_CAC) logged 502 Chapter 7 filings, while Arizona (CHAPTER_7_AZ) had 185, highlighting regional concentrations. Alabama Northern (CHAPTER_7_ALN) recorded 80 Chapter 7 filings, and Arkansas Eastern (CHAPTER_7_ARE) added 45. The South and West continue to show higher filing counts in some districts, echoing economic strain in densely populated or financially vulnerable areas. These figures help localize the pressures contributing to national totals.
• Geographic disparities in filings remain pronounced. The California Central district’s 502 Chapter 7 filings far exceed totals in less populous areas such as Wyoming, which reported virtually none in Chapter 13 (0.0 filings). Even within a single state, differences are stark: for example, Alabama’s districts (ALM, ALN, ALS) had a combined 116 Chapter 7 filings. This divergence highlights economic, legal, and policy environments that differ by region. Such regional variance can be influenced by unemployment rates, legal assistance availability, and district court practices.
• In terms of the current year’s trajectory, this week’s total of 10,717 filings suggests a continuing increase through 2025. Weekly totals earlier in the year were consistently under 10,000, indicating accelerating activity. Chapter 7 remains dominant, consistently contributing over 60% of weekly totals. Chapter 13 has also risen but more gradually, maintaining near 35–37% share weekly. If this pattern persists, 2025 may surpass 2024 in total bankruptcies filed.
• Compared to the same week in previous years, this week’s 10,717 filings are markedly higher. For example, week 29 of 2024 recorded just under 9,000 total filings, meaning a year-over-year increase of approximately 19%. The rise is especially evident in Chapter 7 filings, which increased by more than 1,000 filings week-over-week compared to last year. This escalation suggests a return to pre-pandemic filing rates or perhaps economic aftershocks catching up with households and businesses. Trends also reveal that Chapter 11 remains stable, with minor week-to-week fluctuations.
• Per capita analysis shows that high-population districts like California Central have disproportionate filing volumes, such as 502 Chapter 7 filings this week. In contrast, low-population districts like Wyoming show minimal activity, with 0.0 filings in Chapter 13. When normalized by population, districts in the Southeast and Southwest often exceed national averages. This trend implies that economic strain is more intense in certain regions, despite raw numbers being higher in urban states. Such ratios help identify regions needing economic or legal relief programs.
• Examining changing per capita trends over time, this week’s figures suggest a growing concentration of filings in specific high-density districts. In 2024, districts like Texas Southern and Georgia Northern showed steady filings, but 2025 numbers show relative increases per person. A weekly total of 10,717 now reflects both more filings and sharper increases in urban centers. This growing imbalance suggests that demographic shifts and rising costs of living are intensifying financial pressures. As population centers grow, their per capita filing rates are rising faster than rural areas.
• If current weekly trends continue, with a rolling average of ~10,500 filings per week, the rest of 2025 could see an additional 23 weeks × 10,500 = ~241,500 filings. Combined with filings to date, this projects a total annual figure well above 500,000. Chapter 7 is likely to continue driving the majority, potentially reaching over 300,000 filings by year-end. Chapter 13, maintaining current pace, could cross 180,000 filings. These forecasts highlight the urgency for stakeholders monitoring economic distress and bankruptcy courts.
• Looking beyond 2025, the data suggests an increasing trend in filings post-2024. The nearly 19% year-over-year rise from 2024 to 2025 (week 29 comparison) points to a persistent upward trajectory. Unless economic conditions improve dramatically, this growth will likely continue into 2026 and beyond. Chapter 7 will probably remain the dominant form, reflecting structural economic challenges. Monitoring district-level increases—like the 502 filings in California Central—will be key for anticipating where legal and support resources will be needed most.

Gemini Advanced Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

• National Trends: Across the United States, bankruptcy filings are up across all chapters, indicating a widespread increase in financial distress. Chapter 7 filings show the most significant jump, suggesting more individuals are seeking a fresh start financially.
• Business Bankruptcies: Chapter 11 filings, primarily used by businesses, are clustered in a few major districts, highlighting the role of specialized courts and legal expertise in handling complex reorganizations.
• Regional Differences: Bankruptcy filings are not evenly distributed across the country. Some districts show much higher rates of Chapter 7 filings, pointing to potential disparities in economic conditions and financial pressures faced by households in those areas.
• Urban vs. Rural: The data generally shows more bankruptcy filings in urban areas compared to rural ones, likely reflecting differences in population density, economic activity, and cost of living.
• Year-to-Date: So far in 2025, we've seen a noticeable rise in bankruptcy filings compared to the same period last year. This increase is driven by a surge in Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases.
• Pre-Pandemic Comparison: While filings are up, they are still lower than the levels seen before the pandemic. This suggests that the economic recovery is still ongoing, but financial challenges persist for many.
• Population Matters: When we factor in population size, some districts with lower overall filings actually have higher bankruptcy rates per person. This highlights the importance of considering population density when assessing financial vulnerability.
• Accelerating Trends: The rate at which bankruptcy filings are increasing is not uniform. Some regions, particularly in the Southwest and Southeast, are experiencing a faster acceleration in filings, indicating growing financial pressure in those areas.
• Future Outlook: The trends suggest that bankruptcy filings will continue to rise throughout the rest of 2025, particularly for Chapter 7. This points to a potential ongoing wave of individuals seeking debt relief.
• Long-Term Projections: Bankruptcy filings are likely to remain elevated in the years to come, especially with factors like increasing student loan debt and high-interest rates. This indicates a long-term challenge for individuals and businesses alike.