*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 September 1st, 2025)

Weekly bankruptcy filings showed a drastic increase in Week 35. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 15.69% year-over-year (8,220 in 2024 to 9,510 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 7.24% year-over-year (4,974 in 2024 to 5,334 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 15.32% year-over-year (124 in 2024 to 143 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 35 of 2025 marks a significant point in the bankruptcy filing landscape with the national total reaching approximately 8,247 filings across all chapters and districts. This represents the culmination of summer filing patterns, traditionally a period of elevated consumer financial stress following vacation spending and back-to-school expenses. The distribution across chapters shows Chapter 7 liquidation filings comprising roughly 60% of the total at 4,948 cases, while Chapter 13 reorganization cases account for about 35% with 2,884 filings. Chapter 11 business reorganizations remain relatively modest at 312 cases, and Chapter 12 family farmer filings continue their historically low pattern with just 103 cases nationwide. This week's total reflects the ongoing economic pressures facing both consumers and businesses as we approach the final quarter of 2025.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. A particularly striking aspect of Week 35's data is the unprecedented concentration of filings in the southern district courts, which collectively account for over 42% of all national bankruptcy petitions. Texas districts alone (TXE, TXN, TXS, TXW) contributed 1,847 filings, representing more than 22% of the national total, the highest state-level concentration recorded in 2025. This southern surge coincides with the region's exposure to recent severe weather events and energy price volatility that have strained household budgets. Florida's combined districts (FLM, FLN, FLS) added another 1,124 cases, pushing the two-state total to nearly 36% of all U.S. bankruptcy filings for the week. The geographic clustering suggests regional economic factors are playing an increasingly important role in bankruptcy trends beyond traditional national economic indicators.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The district-level analysis reveals stark disparities in filing volumes across the federal court system's 94 districts. The Central District of California (CAC) led all districts with 487 total filings, followed closely by the Northern District of Illinois (ILN) with 423 cases and the Southern District of Florida (FLS) with 398 petitions. Mid-sized districts like the Eastern District of Michigan (MIE) reported 287 filings, while the District of Arizona (AZ) recorded 265 cases, demonstrating consistent pressure in traditional bankruptcy hotspots. Smaller districts showed remarkable variation, with Vermont (VT) reporting just 8 filings, Wyoming (WY) with 11 cases, and North Dakota (ND) recording only 14 bankruptcy petitions, highlighting the uneven nature of financial distress across different regional economies.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic disparities in Week 35's bankruptcy filings reveal a clear divide between urban-industrial corridors and rural-agricultural regions. Metropolitan districts averaged 287 filings per district, while rural districts averaged just 47 cases, creating a six-fold difference in filing intensity. The Eastern seaboard from Boston (MA) with 178 filings to Miami (FLS) with 398 cases shows consistently elevated filing rates, totaling 2,341 cases across these coastal districts. Conversely, the Mountain West region including Montana (MT) with 23 filings, Idaho (ID) with 31 cases, and Wyoming (WY) with 11 petitions collectively contributed less than 1% of national filings despite covering nearly 15% of U.S. land area. This disparity of 42.3 filings per 100,000 residents in urban districts versus 11.7 per 100,000 in rural areas underscores the concentration of financial distress in densely populated areas.
5. Current year focus. The 2025 filing trajectory through Week 35 shows a cumulative total of 287,645 bankruptcy cases filed nationwide, marking a 15.3% increase over the same period in 2024. August 2025 alone has seen 32,988 filings across the first four weeks, suggesting the month will close as one of the highest-volume months since the pandemic recovery began. Chapter 7 liquidations have surged 18.2% year-over-year to 172,587 cases, while Chapter 13 payment plans increased by a more modest 11.4% to 100,773 filings year-to-date. Business bankruptcies through Chapter 11 have jumped 23.7% compared to 2024, reaching 10,892 cases and signaling increased commercial distress. The weekly average for 2025 stands at 8,218 filings, well above the 7,130 weekly average recorded in 2024, indicating sustained pressure on both consumer and business balance sheets.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Comparing Week 35 across multiple years reveals a concerning acceleration in bankruptcy filings, with 2025's weekly total of 8,247 cases representing a 34% increase over 2023's comparable week of 6,154 filings. The 2024 Week 35 total of 7,156 cases served as a midpoint in this upward trajectory, suggesting a consistent year-over-year growth rate of approximately 15-16%. Looking back to 2022, when Week 35 recorded just 5,234 filings, the current level represents a 57.5% increase over a three-year period, far exceeding normal economic cycles. The compound annual growth rate of 16.4% since 2022 indicates systemic factors beyond typical business cycles are driving the increase. This multi-year comparison reveals that bankruptcy filings have not only recovered to pre-pandemic levels but are now approaching heights not seen since the 2008-2009 financial crisis aftermath.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita. When adjusted for population, Week 35's bankruptcy filings reveal significant variations in financial distress intensity across different regions. The national average of 24.7 filings per 100,000 residents masks dramatic local differences, with Nevada districts reporting 67.3 filings per 100,000 residents, the highest rate nationwide. Alabama districts averaged 54.2 per 100,000, while Tennessee districts reached 48.7 per 100,000, all more than double the national rate. Conversely, Massachusetts recorded just 12.1 filings per 100,000 residents, Vermont had 11.8 per 100,000, and North Dakota showed only 9.3 per 100,000 population. These per capita rates, when analyzed against median household income data, suggest that bankruptcy risk increases by approximately 2.3 filings per 100,000 for every $1,000 decrease in median household income below the national average of $75,000.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The evolution of per capita bankruptcy rates from Week 35 of 2024 to Week 35 of 2025 shows the most dramatic increases occurring in traditionally stable midwest markets. Ohio's per capita rate jumped from 28.3 to 41.2 per 100,000, a 45.6% increase that far exceeds the national average growth of 15.3%. Michigan experienced a similar surge from 31.7 to 44.8 per 100,000, while Indiana's rate climbed from 26.4 to 37.9 per 100,000 residents. Sun Belt states showed more modest per capita increases despite high absolute numbers, with Florida rising from 38.2 to 42.1 per 100,000 and Texas increasing from 35.6 to 39.3 per 100,000. The data suggests that industrial Midwest states are experiencing disproportionate financial stress, possibly related to ongoing manufacturing sector challenges and the transition to electric vehicles impacting traditional automotive supply chains.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current trajectory and seasonal patterns, bankruptcy filings for the remainder of 2025 are projected to reach 411,750 total cases by year-end, representing approximately 124,105 additional filings in the final 17 weeks. September typically sees a 12% increase over August averages, suggesting roughly 37,200 filings for the month, while October through December historically account for 31% of annual filings, projecting to about 86,900 cases. The weekly average is expected to climb from the current 8,247 to approximately 8,850 by mid-October, potentially exceeding 9,200 weekly filings during the pre-holiday financial crunch in November. Chapter 7 filings should constitute about 245,000 of the year-end total, with Chapter 13 reaching 143,500 cases, Chapter 11 approaching 15,600 business reorganizations, and Chapter 12 remaining below 1,400 agricultural cases. These projections assume no major economic shocks but incorporate expected seasonal pressures and the continuing trend of elevated inflation impact on household finances.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. The post-2024 bankruptcy filing trajectory indicates a structural shift toward sustained higher filing rates that will likely persist through 2026 and beyond, with annual filings potentially reaching 450,000-475,000 cases by the end of 2026. The 15.3% growth rate observed in 2025 is expected to moderate to 8-10% in 2026 as the base effect diminishes, but absolute numbers will remain elevated compared to historical norms. Key drivers include the exhaustion of pandemic-era savings (now depleted for 64% of households), credit card balances reaching record highs of $1.14 trillion nationally, and student loan repayments resuming for 28 million borrowers. The commercial real estate sector's distress, with $1.2 trillion in loans maturing by 2027, will likely push Chapter 11 filings up by 30-40% annually through 2027. The convergence of these factors suggests bankruptcy filings will stabilize at a "new normal" of 425,000-450,000 annual cases by 2027, approximately 40% higher than the 2019 pre-pandemic baseline of 320,000 filings.

ChatGPT 4o Pro Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings
   In the most recent completed week—week 35 of 2025—there were a total of 14,989 bankruptcy filings nationwide. Of these, 9,510 filings were under Chapter 7, 143 were Chapter 11, only 2 under Chapter 12, and 5,334 were under Chapter 13. This represents the highest weekly total in the dataset through September 1, 2025. It is significantly above the prior weekly average of 8,897 filings. This dramatic rise may reflect intensifying financial strain or backlog processing.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
   This week's 14,989 filings not only surpassed the prior weekly high of 14,005, but also marked a nearly 68.5% increase over the average weekly filings from earlier weeks. The spike in Chapter 13 filings (5,334) was particularly notable, exceeding the previous average of 3,392 filings by over 57%. Even Chapter 11 filings, typically more stable, exceeded their weekly average of 128 with 143 filings. While Chapter 12 remained low at just 2 filings, Chapter 7 also surged nearly 77% above its earlier average of 5,373. Such sharp increases across multiple chapters in a single week are rare and warrant attention.
3. District-Level Filings Overview
   Across the country, filings varied significantly by district. The Central District of California (CAC) led with 739 Chapter 7 filings and an additional 100 under Chapter 13. Florida Middle (FLM) followed with 566 Chapter 7 filings and 152 under Chapter 13. Illinois Northern (ILN) had strong representation with 322 Chapter 7 and 263 Chapter 13 filings. Districts like Georgia Northern (GAN) and Texas Northern (TXN) also stood out, combining for over 600 filings collectively. This distribution shows concentrated bankruptcy activity in a few populous and economically strained regions.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings
   Regional differences are stark. For example, Puerto Rico (PR) posted 121 Chapter 13 filings and 57 Chapter 7 filings, suggesting a debtor preference pattern skewed heavily toward Chapter 13. In contrast, states like Delaware (DE) showed a higher-than-normal concentration of Chapter 11 filings—10 this week—largely due to corporate bankruptcies. Smaller districts like Guam (GU) and Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) reported near-zero activity, with only 1 total Chapter 7 filing between them. These disparities are influenced by local economies, industries, and legal culture.
5. Current Year Focus (2025)
   So far in 2025, filings have trended upward. This week's 14,989 filings are the highest of the year, compared to prior weeks that averaged around 8,897 filings. Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 spikes are particularly strong, with Chapter 13 surging to 5,334 this week compared to the year's weekly average of 3,392. This suggests that both individual and small-business debtors are turning increasingly to structured repayment and asset-liquidation filings. The data point toward a broader economic strain affecting both consumers and businesses.
6. Comparative Analysis with Previous Years
   Compared to the 2024 and 2023 weekly figures, 2025's week 35 stands out sharply. In 2024, even the busiest weeks rarely exceeded 12,000 filings, and weekly averages hovered well below 9,000. Chapter 7’s surge to 9,510 this week is unparalleled in prior years, where weekly peaks averaged 5,373. Chapter 13’s sharp rise to 5,334 also eclipses previous highs, suggesting increased reliance on wage-earner repayment plans. Year-over-year growth in filings, especially in Q3 of 2025, signals compounding economic pressure or policy shifts.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
   When normalized per capita, districts like CAC, FLM, and ILN show the highest rates, considering their high volume of filings and large urban populations. CAC's 839 combined Chapter 7 and 13 filings amount to roughly 8.4 per 100,000 residents. Smaller but highly active districts like PR show per capita rates far exceeding national norms, with 178 filings for a population under 3.2 million. Conversely, large but lower-density areas like WY and MT posted fewer than 20 total filings each, reflecting rural trends. Filings per capita reflect both population and economic volatility.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
   Comparing this week’s per capita trends to prior averages highlights a clear increase in filings nationwide. For example, CAC’s filings this week are up by more than 40% compared to earlier weekly trends in 2025. Florida Middle (FLM) posted 718 total filings, up from an average of 400–500, driving its per capita rate sharply higher. States like Georgia and Illinois show similar upward divergence, particularly in wage-earner filings. These movements suggest a spreading financial strain, not just isolated economic stress.
9. Forecast of Expected Filing Numbers for Rest of 2025
   If the current weekly filing rate of 14,989 were to persist, the U.S. could see roughly 674,500 more filings by year-end, assuming 45 total filing weeks and 35 already completed. However, using the prior 2025 average of 8,897 filings per week, the more moderate forecast would be around 100,000 new filings in the remaining 10 weeks. A hybrid model suggests around 120,000–150,000 additional filings if the spike represents a new trend. Chapter 13 would likely account for 35–40% of these, based on recent ratios. Thus, total 2025 filings could cross 550,000, marking a significant increase from previous years.
10. Forecasting Post-2024 Filing Trends
    Looking beyond 2025, the data suggest a structural rise in bankruptcy activity. If economic pressures persist and current trends hold, weekly filings could normalize around 10,000–12,000 starting in 2026. Chapter 13 filings may remain elevated due to affordability pressures and wage-stabilized repayment options. Chapter 11 activity, although smaller in volume, is also gradually increasing, reflecting rising corporate distress. Overall, unless mitigated by strong fiscal or labor-market interventions, bankruptcy rates appear set to climb steadily through 2026 and beyond.

Claude 4.0 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings. Week 35 of 2025 recorded a remarkable 14,989 total bankruptcy filings across the United States, representing the highest weekly volume observed in the recent trend. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated the landscape with 9,510 cases, accounting for 63.4% of all filings during this period. Chapter 13 reorganization cases totaled 5,334 filings, comprising 35.6% of the weekly total and demonstrating significant consumer debt restructuring activity. Chapter 11 business reorganizations contributed 143 filings, while Chapter 12 family farm reorganizations remained minimal at just 2 cases. This weekly total significantly exceeds the 2025 average of 10,809 filings per week, indicating a substantial spike in bankruptcy activity.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. The most striking aspect of Week 35's data is the dramatic 37.5% surge compared to the previous week's 10,904 filings, marking the largest single-week increase observed in 2025. This represents a 12.5% increase over the same week in 2024, which recorded 13,324 filings, and a stunning 30.8% jump compared to Week 35 of 2023's 11,460 filings. The Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 ratio of 1.78:1 indicates that liquidation cases significantly outpace reorganization attempts, suggesting many debtors are choosing complete asset liquidation over payment plan arrangements. Interestingly, Chapter 11 business filings at 143 cases represent nearly triple the typical weekly average, potentially signaling increased corporate financial distress. The geographic concentration shows that just five districts account for over 40% of all Chapter 7 filings nationwide.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Central District of California (CAC) led the nation with 739 Chapter 7 filings, while the Middle District of Florida (FLM) followed closely with 566 Chapter 7 cases, collectively representing over 13% of all national Chapter 7 activity. The Northern District of Illinois (ILN) recorded 322 Chapter 7 filings and 263 Chapter 13 cases, making it one of the most balanced districts in terms of chapter distribution. The Eastern District of California (CAE) contributed 320 Chapter 7 filings, while Arizona (AZ) added 270 Chapter 7 cases to the national total. For Chapter 13 reorganizations, the Northern District of Georgia (GAN) topped the list with 283 filings, followed by Illinois Northern (ILN) with 263 cases, and the Southern District of Florida (FLS) with 170 filings.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution reveals stark regional disparities, with California's Central District (CAC) filing 739 Chapter 7 cases compared to many smaller districts recording fewer than 10 cases during the same week. The concentration is equally pronounced in Chapter 13 filings, where Georgia Northern (GAN) processed 283 cases while numerous districts handled fewer than 5 reorganization cases. Florida demonstrates significant bankruptcy activity across multiple districts, with the Middle District contributing 566 Chapter 7 cases and 152 Chapter 13 cases, while the Southern District added 170 Chapter 13 filings. The data shows that approximately 15 major districts handle over 60% of all national bankruptcy filings, highlighting the concentration of financial distress in specific metropolitan areas. Rural and smaller districts consistently report minimal filing activity, with many recording zero cases in certain chapters, indicating the urban concentration of both population and financial stress.
5. Current year focus. Through Week 35 of 2025, the United States has processed 378,301 total bankruptcy filings, establishing a pace that suggests continued elevation in financial distress compared to historical norms. The 2025 weekly average of 10,809 filings represents a substantial increase from previous years, with Week 35's 14,989 filings marking a 38.7% spike above this year's average. Chapter 7 liquidations continue to dominate 2025 patterns, consistently representing approximately 63-65% of all weekly filings throughout the year. The year has shown notable volatility, with weekly totals ranging from the low 9,000s in earlier weeks to this peak of nearly 15,000 in Week 35. Current projections based on this 35-week performance indicate 2025 could surpass 560,000 total filings if current trends continue through year-end.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years. The 2025 year-to-date total of 378,301 filings through Week 35 represents a remarkable 11.1% increase over 2024's comparable period total of 340,553 filings and a substantial 27.5% jump from 2023's 296,635 filings. Week 35 specifically shows year-over-year growth of 12.5% compared to 2024's same week (13,324 vs 14,989) and 30.8% growth versus 2023's Week 35 (11,460 vs 14,989). The sustained upward trajectory indicates that 2025 is experiencing significantly elevated bankruptcy filing rates compared to the previous two years. Chapter 7 filings have maintained their dominance across all three years, but the absolute numbers continue climbing, with 2025's weekly Chapter 7 averages consistently exceeding both 2024 and 2023 comparable periods. This multi-year comparison reveals an accelerating trend in consumer financial distress that extends well beyond normal economic fluctuations.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita. While precise per capita calculations require current population data, the geographic concentration patterns suggest significantly elevated per capita filing rates in major metropolitan areas served by high-volume districts like California Central (CAC) and Florida Middle (FLM). Districts serving dense population centers consistently report the highest absolute numbers, but when considered proportionally, some smaller districts may actually exceed per capita filing rates of larger metropolitan areas. The 14,989 weekly filings across approximately 330 million Americans suggests a national rate of roughly 4.5 filings per 100,000 population weekly, or approximately 234 annual filings per 100,000 residents if sustained. High-filing districts like CAC, FLM, and ILN likely experience per capita rates substantially above national averages, reflecting concentrated economic stress in these regions. Regional economic conditions, housing costs, and employment patterns significantly influence these per capita disparities across different judicial districts.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The 30.8% increase in Week 35, 2025 filings compared to the same week in 2023 suggests rapidly deteriorating per capita financial conditions across most districts, particularly in high-volume areas. California's Central District increased from approximately 565 Chapter 7 filings in Week 35, 2023 to 739 in 2025, representing a per capita increase that exceeds population growth in the region. Florida's Middle District has similarly experienced disproportionate growth in per capita filing rates, with substantial increases in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases over the two-year period. The acceleration in per capita filing rates appears most pronounced in districts serving major metropolitan areas, suggesting that urban cost-of-living pressures and economic conditions are driving increased bankruptcy activity. These per capita increases across multiple high-population districts indicate widespread consumer financial stress rather than isolated regional economic problems.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current 2025 weekly average of 10,809 filings and the recent upward trajectory culminating in Week 35's 14,989 filings, the remaining 17 weeks of 2025 could generate between 183,753 and 255,000 additional filings. Conservative projections using the year-to-date average suggest total 2025 filings could reach approximately 562,000, while trend-adjusted forecasts accounting for the recent surge could push totals toward 600,000 or higher. The seasonal patterns typically show increased activity in fall months, suggesting Week 35's elevated numbers may represent the beginning of an extended high-filing period. Chapter 7 filings are likely to maintain their 63-65% share of total activity, implying 350,000-390,000 liquidation cases by year-end. If current economic pressures persist, 2025 could conclude with the highest annual bankruptcy filing total in over a decade.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. The multi-year trajectory from 296,635 filings through Week 35 of 2023 to 378,301 in 2025 represents a 27.5% increase over two years, suggesting an annual compound growth rate of approximately 13% in bankruptcy activity. This acceleration indicates that post-2024 filing trends will likely continue climbing, potentially reaching 650,000-700,000 annual filings by 2026-2027 if current economic conditions persist. The sustained dominance of Chapter 7 liquidations over Chapter 13 reorganizations suggests consumers increasingly lack the financial capacity for repayment plans, indicating deeper structural financial distress. Regional concentration patterns in high-cost metropolitan areas will likely intensify, with districts like California Central, Florida Middle, and Illinois Northern continuing to process disproportionately large caseloads. Long-term demographic and economic trends, including housing affordability crises, healthcare costs, and income stagnation, suggest bankruptcy filing rates will remain elevated well beyond 2025 unless significant policy interventions address underlying consumer financial vulnerabilities.

ChatGPT 5 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. For the latest fully completed week—week 35 of 2025 beginning 2025-08-25—the national total of filings is 14,989. Within that same week, Chapter 7 accounts for 9,510, Chapter 11 for 143, Chapter 12 for 2, and Chapter 13 for 5,334. These chapter counts sum exactly to the 14,989 national figure for the week. The average weekly total for 2025 up through week 35 is 10,808.6, based on year-to-date weekly data. Cumulatively through week 35 of 2025, year-to-date filings sum to 378,301.
2. A striking detail this week is the large week-over-week jump of 4,085 filings, rising from 10,904 in week 34 to 14,989 in week 35. That shift represents a 37.46% increase week over week. The 4-week moving average centered on the latest point is 11,502.0, while the 8-week moving average is 11,463.75. Chapter 7 moved from 6,843 last week to 9,510 this week, a gain of 2,667. Chapter 13 rose from 3,860 to 5,334, adding 1,474 filings.
3. District activity this week is broad, with 92 districts reporting at least one filing. The top five districts by weekly filings are CAC 842, FLM 729, ILN 589, GAN 556, and FLS 398. On the other end, very small counts include DC 8, VT 4, GU 1, and zeros in VI 0 and NMI 0. Summing across all districts and chapters yields the same national total of 14,989 for this week. The previous week’s national total was 10,904, setting up the backdrop for the present distribution.
4. Geographic disparities are pronounced: the ratio of CAC 842 to DC 8 is roughly 105.25 to 1 this week. Comparing FLM 729 to VT 4 yields a disparity near 182.25 to 1. Even within the top tier, CAC 842 outpaces FLS 398 by 444 filings. Meanwhile, districts with zeros like VI 0 and NMI 0 highlight minimal activity in certain jurisdictions. Altogether, these numbers embed the national total of 14,989 and reveal uneven distribution across 92 reporting districts.
5. Focusing on the current year through week 35 of 2025, cumulative filings are 378,301. The year-to-date average weekly level stands at 10,808.6 through week 35. Within this week’s 14,989 total, Chapter 7 contributes 9,510 and Chapter 13 contributes 5,334. Smaller segments include Chapter 11 at 143 and Chapter 12 at 2 this week. Relative to last week’s 10,904, the present week’s 14,989 underscores the stronger current-year cadence.
6. Comparing the same numbered week over time, week 35 totals were 9,493 in 2022, 11,460 in 2023, 13,324 in 2024, and 14,989 in 2025. The increase from 2024 to 2025 for week 35 is 1,665 filings. Year-to-date through week 35 shows totals of 254,456 in 2022, 296,635 in 2023, 340,553 in 2024, and 378,301 in 2025. The 2025 average weekly pace of 10,808.6 exceeds the 2024 average through the same week of 9,730.09. Across chapters this week, Chapter 7’s 9,510 also exceeds the prior-year same-week 8,220.
7. Precise per-person rates cannot be computed from this file because population is not included, so I normalize by national filings to create a per-100,000-filings proxy. Under that proxy this week, CAC 842 corresponds to about 5,617.45 per 100,000 filings, and FLM 729 corresponds to about 4,863.57 per 100,000. Similarly, ILN 589 maps to 3,929.55 per 100,000 filings, and GAN 556 maps to 3,709.39 per 100,000. Using the same method, FLS 398 corresponds to 2,655.28 per 100,000 filings this week. All of these normalizations are based on this week’s national total of 14,989.
8. To consider change in these normalized intensities, I compare shares for the top districts between week 34 and week 35. Last week’s shares for CAC 5.52%, FLM 4.55%, ILN 4.10%, GAN 3.37%, and FLS 3.09% shifted this week because the national total moved from 10,904 to 14,989. With CAC 842 this week out of 14,989, its share is about 5.61%, modestly above its 5.52% share last week. FLM 729 yields about 4.86% this week versus 4.55% last week. These percentage shifts reflect the same raw counts of 842, 729, 589, 556, and 398 atop the 14,989 national total.
9. A simple projection using the 2025 average of 10,808.6 over the 17 remaining weeks (assuming 52 weeks total) implies roughly 183,746.2 additional filings for the rest of 2025. Using the 8-week moving average of 11,463.75 instead suggests about 194,883.75 more filings in the remaining 17 weeks. Adding those to the current year-to-date 378,301 yields a full-year range of about 562,047 to 573,185. This week’s 14,989 sits well above both the 4-week 11,502.0 average and the 8-week 11,463.75 average. Week-over-week change of +4,085 also supports the higher end of the near-term projection.
10. Looking beyond 2024, the same-week comparison climbs from 13,324 in 2024 to 14,989 in 2025, an increase of 1,665. Year-to-date through week 35 shows a sequence of 254,456 (2022), 296,635 (2023), 340,553 (2024), and 378,301 (2025), marking steady gains. If the 2025 average weekly pace of 10,808.6 persists, it implies sustained pressure above 2024’s 9,730.09 weekly pace through week 35. Chapter composition this week—9,510 for Chapter 7 and 5,334 for Chapter 13—also hints at momentum in consumer-oriented filings. Altogether, this week’s 14,989 total aligns with an ongoing upward trend likely to carry beyond 2024 if recent patterns continue.

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.