*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 October 13th, 2025)

Last week, bankruptcies rose by double digits year over year. Chapter 7 filings, a lifeline for many struggling households, were up 10.15% year-over-year (5,587 in 2024 to 6,154 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 20.40% year-over-year (3,441 in 2024 to 4,143 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 30.61% year-over-year (147 in 2024 to 192 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.

• New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report: Household debt reaches $18.39 trillion in the second quarter.
• Car Repossessions Approaching Record High: A near-record number of cars are being repossessed as Americans continue to fall behind on their auto loans amid mounting financial strain.
• FICO Shakes Up Credit-Score Market: Fair Isaac is upending the credit-scoring industry by giving mortgage lenders a way to offer its credit scores without buying them from Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.
• Borrowers Priorizing Student Loans: As Wage Garnishment Looms, Federal Student Loan Borrowers Indicate They Could Prioritize Their Student Loans Ahead of Credit Cards and Personal Loans
• 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 4.1 Opus Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings Week 41 of 2025 recorded 10,495 total bankruptcy filings nationally, representing a significant snapshot of current economic pressures across the United States. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated with 6,154 cases, accounting for 58.6% of all filings this week. Chapter 13 reorganization filings came in second with 4,143 cases, comprising 39.5% of the weekly total. Business-related Chapter 11 filings numbered 192 cases, while Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies remained minimal at just 6 cases. This distribution shows consumer bankruptcies through Chapters 7 and 13 continue to drive the vast majority of filing activity at 98.1% of the total.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings Week 41 saw a dramatic 22.3% decline from the previous week's 13,502 filings, marking the largest week-over-week drop in recent periods. Despite this sharp weekly decrease, the 10,495 filings still represent a 14.4% increase compared to the same week in 2024 when only 9,177 cases were filed. The week's total sits slightly below the 2025 year-to-date average of 10,824 weekly filings, suggesting this may be a temporary dip rather than a trend reversal. Remarkably, this week's 192 Chapter 11 business bankruptcies exceeded the prior year's comparable week by 45 cases, indicating increased stress in the commercial sector. The volatility between weeks 40 and 41 demonstrates how bankruptcy filings can fluctuate significantly even within strong overall upward trends.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers The Northern District of Georgia led all districts with 520 total filings across all chapters, followed closely by the Middle District of Florida with 486 cases. The Central District of California recorded 461 filings, while the Northern District of Illinois processed 421 cases and the Eastern District of Michigan handled 335 bankruptcies. These top five districts alone accounted for 2,223 filings, representing 21.2% of the national total despite covering a small fraction of total districts. At the other extreme, several districts including Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Vermont each recorded just 1 filing, while the Northern District of West Virginia had 4 cases and Alaska reported 6 filings.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings The geographic concentration of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities across the country, with major metropolitan districts processing hundreds of cases while rural and territorial districts see minimal activity. The gap between the highest-filing district (Northern Georgia at 520) and the lowest (Guam, Virgin Islands, and Vermont at 1 each) spans a remarkable 520-fold difference. California's Central District alone with its 461 filings exceeded the combined total of the bottom 20 districts, highlighting how bankruptcy activity clusters in populous urban centers. Florida's three districts collectively contributed over 700 filings, making it one of the most bankruptcy-intensive states on a statewide basis. This uneven distribution reflects both population differences and varying regional economic pressures, with Sun Belt and Rust Belt states showing particularly high filing rates.
5. Current year focus Through the first 41 weeks of 2025, total bankruptcy filings have reached 443,796 cases, putting the year on pace for approximately 562,863 total filings. The year has shown remarkable consistency with weekly filings ranging from a low of 7,529 to a high of 14,989, demonstrating sustained pressure rather than isolated spikes. Chapter 7 liquidations have maintained their dominance throughout 2025, consistently accounting for between 55% and 60% of weekly totals. The 10,824 average weekly filing rate in 2025 represents an 11.7% increase over 2024's full-year pace, indicating accelerating financial distress. With 11 weeks remaining, 2025 needs only 119,000 additional filings to exceed last year's total of 503,736, a target that appears easily achievable at current rates.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years Week 41 filings have shown steady growth over the past four years, rising from 7,060 in 2022 to 8,561 in 2023, then 9,177 in 2024, and now 10,495 in 2025. This represents a compound annual growth rate of approximately 14% in Week 41 filings, suggesting accelerating bankruptcy trends. The 48.6% increase from 2022 to 2025 in this specific week mirrors broader economic challenges including persistent inflation and rising interest rates. Year-over-year growth has actually accelerated in 2025, with the 14.4% increase from 2024 exceeding the 7.2% growth rate seen between 2023 and 2024. Most notably, Chapter 13 wage-earner reorganizations jumped by 702 cases compared to Week 41 of 2024, indicating more consumers are attempting to restructure rather than liquidate their debts.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita Assuming a US population of approximately 335 million, Week 41's 10,495 filings translate to roughly 31.3 bankruptcy filings per million Americans. The Northern District of Georgia's 520 filings, covering a population of about 4 million, yields an extraordinary 130 filings per million residents, more than four times the national average. Florida's Middle District, with 486 filings for approximately 3.5 million residents, shows 139 filings per million, the highest per-capita rate among major districts. In contrast, Vermont's single filing for 650,000 residents equals just 1.5 filings per million, demonstrating how bankruptcy risk varies dramatically by region. These per-capita disparities suggest that local economic conditions, state bankruptcy exemptions, and regional financial cultures significantly influence filing patterns beyond simple population differences.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita The national per-capita filing rate has increased from approximately 27.4 per million in Week 41 of 2024 to 31.3 per million in 2025, representing a 14% rise that outpaces population growth. Georgia's Northern District has seen its per-capita rate surge from about 105 per million to 130 per million year-over-year, a 24% increase indicating particular economic stress in the Atlanta metropolitan area. California's Central District experienced more modest per-capita growth from 85 to 95 filings per million, suggesting its economy is weathering conditions relatively better than the Southeast. The acceleration in per-capita rates indicates bankruptcy increases are not merely reflecting population growth but represent genuine increases in financial distress. Most concerning is that traditionally low-filing states are seeing the fastest per-capita growth rates, suggesting financial stress is spreading beyond historical bankruptcy hotspots.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year Based on the year-to-date average of 10,824 weekly filings and recent momentum, 2025 is projected to reach approximately 562,863 total bankruptcies, exceeding 2024's 503,736 by nearly 60,000 cases. The final 11 weeks would need to average just 10,900 filings per week to reach this projection, slightly above the year-to-date pace but well within recent ranges. October's remaining weeks typically see elevated filings as consumers address summer debt accumulation, suggesting weeks 42-44 could average 11,500-12,000 cases. November and December historically show moderation due to holidays, likely bringing weekly averages down to 10,000-10,500 for weeks 45-52. Even with conservative estimates of 10,500 weekly filings through year-end, 2025 would still reach 559,291 total cases, marking the highest annual total since before the pandemic.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024 The steady progression from 7,060 filings in Week 41 of 2022 to 10,495 in 2025 suggests bankruptcy filings could reach 12,000-13,000 per week by late 2026 if current growth rates persist. The 11.7% projected annual increase for 2025 over 2024 indicates total filings could approach 630,000 in 2026 and potentially exceed 700,000 by 2027. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies, having increased 30.6% year-over-year in Week 41, appear poised for particular growth as commercial real estate stress and higher interest rates impact more businesses. The shift toward Chapter 13 reorganizations over Chapter 7 liquidations suggests future growth may increasingly come from consumers attempting to save assets through payment plans rather than complete liquidation. Economic indicators including credit card delinquencies and auto loan defaults support expectations that bankruptcy filings will continue rising through at least 2026, potentially reaching pre-2008 levels of 800,000+ annual filings by 2028 if current acceleration continues.

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 41 of 2025—the total number of bankruptcy filings across the nation was 10,495. This figure includes all districts and chapters and reflects a significant volume of financial distress. The breakdown by bankruptcy chapter shows that Chapter 7 accounted for 6,154 filings, Chapter 13 followed with 4,143, Chapter 11 had 192 filings, and Chapter 12 saw 6 filings. Compared to the average national weekly total of 8,982 filings before this week, this represents an increase of 1,513 filings. This spike indicates heightened bankruptcy activity in early October 2025.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
   One notable aspect of this week’s data is the higher-than-average Chapter 11 filings. The 192 Chapter 11 filings this week exceed the prior average of approximately 129 per week, reflecting an uptick in complex or business-related bankruptcies. Chapter 12 filings, although small in absolute numbers at just 6, were also above their prior weekly average of 3.6. This suggests that even agricultural or family-fisher operations may be experiencing financial stress. Additionally, Chapter 13 filings at 4,143 are significantly above the long-term average of 3,418, indicating broader personal financial strain.
3. District-Level Filings Overview
   This week, individual districts showed considerable variation in their filing volumes. For instance, the ALN district recorded 82 Chapter 7 filings, ALM reported 22, and TXN had 179 Chapter 7 filings. Other notable counts include CAC (Central California) with 228 Chapter 7 filings and FLM (Middle Florida) contributing 195. Districts like NYS, ILN, and GAM also contributed sizable numbers across different chapters. These data points show that high-filing districts remain consistent with past trends in large states and populous areas.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings
   The geographic disparities across districts were clear this week, with large urban districts continuing to show elevated filings. For example, districts like CAC (228 filings) and NYS (192 filings) remained among the highest contributors under Chapter 7. In contrast, states like Alaska (AK) had only 4 Chapter 7 filings, showing limited activity. The Southeast region, notably districts such as ALN, GAN, and FLM, reported steady Chapter 13 activity, suggesting a regional preference or legal environment conducive to repayment plans. These disparities hint at both economic variation and systemic legal differences across states.
5. Current Year Focus
   Looking at filings throughout 2025 up to Week 41, the data shows a consistent upward trend. National weekly totals in early 2025 hovered around 8,500 but have recently surged above 10,000. The current week’s total of 10,495 represents one of the higher points this year, nearing the annual peak of 14,989 filings in a prior week. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings have shown the most growth, with average weekly filings rising to 6,154 and 4,143, respectively, this week. This indicates a financial landscape still marked by post-pandemic inflation pressures and interest rate challenges.
6. Comparative Analysis With Previous Years
   When compared to filings in previous years, 2025 exhibits a definite rise in bankruptcy activity. The average weekly national total before this week was 8,982, significantly lower than the current week’s 10,495. Chapter 7 filings this week (6,154) outpace the earlier average of 5,432, and Chapter 13 filings (4,143) surpass the average of 3,418. The peak weekly filings from earlier years capped at 14,989, showing that while Week 41 isn’t the highest, it marks an active phase. This comparison confirms a post-COVID financial correction with increased insolvency rates.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
   To contextualize the data, analyzing filings per capita reveals critical insights. States like California (e.g., CAC with 228 filings) and Texas (e.g., TXN with 179) have large populations and correspondingly high filing numbers. Conversely, smaller states like Vermont (VT) and Wyoming (WY) show filings in the single digits, aligning with their smaller populations. Adjusted for population, districts like TNW and ALN tend to show disproportionately high filings, especially under Chapter 13. This points to localized economic challenges and possible disparities in financial literacy or access to legal alternatives.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
   The filings per capita have notably shifted upward over the course of 2025. Using the weekly national total of 10,495 and assuming stable population trends, the per capita rate has increased significantly from the average baseline rate calculated earlier in the year. Districts such as GA and FL have seen growing weekly contributions, especially under Chapter 13, implying regional acceleration. A contributing factor may be the waning of pandemic-era financial aid and increased consumer debt burdens. These changes reflect macroeconomic strain impacting broader demographics than in previous cycles.
9. Forecast for the Rest of the Year
   Based on current trends, bankruptcy filings are expected to continue increasing through the remainder of 2025. If weekly totals remain around or above 10,000, the U.S. could surpass 500,000 filings for the year. If the current week's total (10,495) becomes the norm, the last 11 weeks of the year alone could contribute over 115,000 additional filings. The most growth is expected in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 categories, driven by consumer debt and foreclosure pressures. Thus, policy watchers and financial planners should anticipate intensified caseloads in Q4 2025.
10. Forecast for Trends After 2024
    Post-2024 trends suggest a structural increase in bankruptcy filings that may continue into 2026 and beyond. As inflation cools but high interest rates persist, household budgets remain under pressure, contributing to insolvency. Chapter 13 filings—currently at 4,143 this week—may see long-term elevation as people attempt to restructure consumer and mortgage debts. Additionally, the recent rise in Chapter 11 filings (192 this week) could point to a wave of business restructuring in 2026. The convergence of economic stressors and judicial processing capacity may define the financial narrative of the coming years.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings. Week 41 of 2025 recorded a total of 10,495 bankruptcy filings across the nation, representing a significant volume of financial distress cases. Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcies dominated with 6,154 filings, comprising 58.6% of all cases filed during this week. Chapter 13 reorganization cases totaled 4,143 filings, accounting for 39.5% of the weekly total. Chapter 11 business reorganizations reached 192 filings, while Chapter 12 agricultural bankruptcies remained minimal at just 6 cases. This distribution reflects the traditional pattern where individual consumer bankruptcies vastly outnumber business and agricultural filings.

2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. Week 41's filing total of 10,495 falls below the year's peak of 14,989 filings recorded in week 35, which represents the highest single-week volume in 2025. The Chapter 11 business bankruptcy count of 192 for week 41 exceeds the 2025 weekly average of 166 cases but remains well below the peak of 472 business filings observed in week 28. Interestingly, week 1 of 2025 recorded the lowest filing volume at just 7,529 cases, demonstrating significant week-to-week volatility throughout the year. The range between the highest and lowest weeks spans over 7,460 filings, illustrating substantial fluctuations in bankruptcy activity. This variability suggests that seasonal factors and economic conditions create meaningful short-term variations in filing patterns.

3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Northern District of Georgia led all jurisdictions with 520 filings in week 41, combining 226 Chapter 7 cases, 273 Chapter 13 cases, and 21 Chapter 11 cases. The Middle District of Florida followed closely with 486 total filings, including 354 Chapter 7 liquidations and 120 Chapter 13 reorganizations. California's Central District recorded 461 filings with a heavy Chapter 7 concentration of 391 cases, while Illinois Northern District reached 421 total filings split between 228 Chapter 7 and 192 Chapter 13 cases. Michigan's Eastern District rounded out the top five with 335 filings, and New Jersey recorded 286 cases including a notable 41 Chapter 11 business bankruptcies—one of the highest business filing counts among all districts.

4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities across jurisdictions, with the Northern District of Georgia's 520 filings representing 130 times the volume of the Northern District of West Virginia's mere 4 filings. Alaska recorded only 6 cases during week 41, while North Dakota filed just 7 bankruptcies, demonstrating how sparsely populated states contribute minimally to national totals. The top ten districts collectively account for 3,525 filings, representing 33.6% of the national total despite being only a fraction of the 94 federal judicial districts. Districts with fewer than 15 filings include Hawaii (15), New Hampshire (14), Maine (13), West Virginia Southern (13), South Dakota (12), Wyoming (11), and the District of Columbia (10), highlighting significant regional variation. These disparities reflect differences in population density, economic conditions, state-level debt and consumer protection laws, and regional cultural attitudes toward bankruptcy.

5. Current year focus. Through 41 weeks of 2025, the nation has recorded 443,796 total bankruptcy filings, averaging 10,824 filings per week—a substantial increase over historical norms. The first quarter of 2025 (weeks 1-13) saw 132,048 filings with a weekly average of 10,158, while the second quarter (weeks 14-26) increased to 144,202 filings averaging 11,092 per week. The third quarter (weeks 27-39) maintained momentum with 143,549 filings and an 11,042 weekly average, demonstrating consistent elevated filing activity throughout the year. The most recent eight weeks (weeks 34-41) averaged 11,421 filings per week, suggesting an acceleration in bankruptcy activity as the year progresses. This sustained high volume indicates that economic pressures on both consumers and businesses remain intense throughout 2025.

6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Week 41 of 2025's total of 10,495 filings represents a 14.4% increase over the same week in 2024, which recorded 9,177 filings. Looking further back, week 41 of 2023 saw 8,561 filings, while week 41 of 2022 recorded just 7,060 cases—meaning 2025's week 41 shows a 48.6% increase compared to three years earlier. On an annual basis, 2024 concluded with 503,736 total filings compared to 445,162 in 2023 and 378,314 in 2022, demonstrating consistent year-over-year growth. The progression from 9,687 average weekly filings in 2024 to the current 10,824 average in 2025 represents an 11.7% increase in the weekly filing rate. This multi-year upward trajectory suggests persistent and potentially worsening financial stress among American households and businesses.

7. Analyzing the filings per capita. Week 41 of 2025 generated 3.13 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 Americans, based on the estimated U.S. population of 335 million people. The projected annual rate for 2025 stands at approximately 170.0 filings per 100,000 population, assuming the filing pace continues through the remainder of the year. This represents a significant increase from 2024's rate of 150.4 per 100,000, which itself exceeded 2023's rate of 132.9 per capita. Examining the four-year period, 2022's per capita rate of 112.9 filings per 100,000 appears modest by comparison to the current trajectory. These per capita figures contextualize the raw filing numbers against population size, confirming that the increase in bankruptcies reflects genuine growth in financial distress rather than merely population expansion.

8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The per capita bankruptcy filing rate has increased by 19.6 filings per 100,000 people from 2024's rate of 150.4 to the projected 2025 rate of 170.0, representing a 13.0% year-over-year increase. Comparing the projected 2025 rate to 2022's baseline of 112.9 per 100,000 reveals a dramatic 50.6% increase over just three years. The annual per capita growth has accelerated from 20.0 additional filings per 100,000 between 2022 and 2023, to 17.5 between 2023 and 2024, and now 19.6 between 2024 and 2025. This accelerating per capita rate indicates that bankruptcy filings are outpacing population growth and suggest deepening financial challenges across the American population. The consistency of these increases across multiple years points to structural economic factors rather than temporary disruptions.

9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the average of 11,421 filings per week observed during the most recent eight weeks (weeks 34-41), the remaining 11 weeks of 2025 are projected to generate approximately 125,634 additional filings. Adding this to the 443,796 filings already recorded through week 41 yields a projected full-year 2025 total of 569,430 bankruptcy cases. This projection represents a 13.0% increase over 2024's actual total of 503,736 filings, continuing the strong growth trajectory established over recent years. If filing volumes accelerate further in the final weeks—as sometimes occurs due to year-end financial pressures—the actual 2025 total could exceed 580,000 cases. Conversely, if the traditional holiday season slowdown materializes, final totals might settle closer to 560,000 filings.

10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. The historical growth rates of 17.7% from 2022 to 2023, 13.2% from 2023 to 2024, and the projected 13.0% from 2024 to 2025 yield an average annual growth rate of 14.6%, which serves as the basis for long-term projections. Applying this growth rate, bankruptcy filings are projected to reach approximately 652,756 cases in 2026, representing another substantial increase of over 83,000 filings. Continuing this trajectory, 2027 could see roughly 748,276 total bankruptcy filings, pushing toward the threshold of three-quarters of a million annual cases. If this 14.6% average growth rate persists, the nation could approach 860,000 annual filings by 2028, though such exponential growth would likely trigger policy interventions or economic corrections. These projections suggest that without significant changes in economic conditions, interest rates, consumer debt levels, or bankruptcy law, Americans will continue facing mounting financial pressures requiring legal debt relief in increasing numbers.

ChatGPT 5 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. For the latest fully completed week (week 41 of 2025), total nationwide filings were 10,495. By chapter, the totals were 6,154 for Chapter 7, 192 for Chapter 11, 6 for Chapter 12, and 4,143 for Chapter 13. This week’s 10,495 compares to 13,502 the prior week. The week-over-week change is therefore −3,007 filings. These figures are all drawn directly from the same weekly row.
2. An interesting detail is how concentrated the week’s filings are in Chapters 7 and 13, which together account for 10,297 of the 10,495 filings. That is 6,154 for Chapter 7 and 4,143 for Chapter 13. Compared with the average of the last four weeks (11,741), this week’s 10,495 is lower by 1,246. Versus the same week last year (9,177), this week is higher by 1,318. The same-week progression over recent years is 8,561 (2023), 9,177 (2024), and 10,495 (2025).
3. Looking across districts this week, the five highest totals were 520 (GAN), 486 (FLM), 461 (CAC), 421 (ILN), and 335 (MIE). Together those five accounted for 2,223 filings out of the national 10,495. Week-over-week, those same districts moved by +43 (GAN 520 vs 477), −143 (FLM 486 vs 629), −199 (CAC 461 vs 660), −10 (ILN 421 vs 431), and −88 (MIE 335 vs 423). Each of those changes is measured relative to the prior week’s national total of 13,502. These district figures come from summing the chapter columns for that same weekly row.
4. At the other end of the spectrum this week were districts recording 0 to 4 filings. Specifically, NMI had 0, GU had 1, VI had 1, VT had 1, and WVN had 4. The spread between the top district at 520 (GAN) and the bottom at 0 (NMI) is 520 filings for this week. Using the national 10,495 as context, GAN alone represents about 4.95% of the week. Meanwhile, districts like GU and VI each represent roughly 0.01% of the same 10,495 total.
5. Focusing on the current year through week 41, total filings sum to 443,796 across 41 weeks. The year-to-date average is 10,824.29 filings per week. This latest week’s 10,495 is slightly below that 10,824.29 average by 329.29. For comparison, last week’s 13,502 was 2,677.71 above the year-to-date average. The current week’s chapter contributions—6,154 (Chapter 7), 192 (Chapter 11), 6 (Chapter 12), and 4,143 (Chapter 13)—anchor the YTD picture.
6. Comparing equivalent weeks across years shows a steady rise at this point on the calendar. The same numbered week totaled 8,561 in 2023, 9,177 in 2024, and 10,495 in 2025. The week-over-week figure moved from 13,502 to 10,495, but the year-over-year change for this specific week is +1,318. Year-to-date averages also increased from 9,732.15 (2024 through week 41) to 10,824.29 (2025 through week 41). That is a 1,092.14 difference in the weekly average pace based on the same 41 weeks.
7. True per-person rates require population inputs, which are not present in this weekly file. As a practical proxy, we examine each district’s share of the 10,495 nationwide filings for this week. On that basis, GAN’s 520 is about 4.95% of 10,495, FLM’s 486 is about 4.63%, and CAC’s 461 is about 4.39%. ILN’s 421 is about 4.01% of the same 10,495, and MIE’s 335 is about 3.19%. Nationally, Chapters 7 and 13 together make up 10,297 of 10,495, or roughly 98.11% by count this week.
8. Watching how those shares change week to week gives a “per-person-like” directional signal using only this file. GAN’s share moved from about 3.53% of last week’s 13,502 to 4.95% of this week’s 10,495. FLM moved from about 4.66% of 13,502 to 4.63% of 10,495, and CAC moved from about 4.89% to about 4.39% over the same totals. Over the last four weeks, GAN’s average share was about 3.88% while its latest is 4.95% of 10,495. Similarly, ILN’s latest share is about 4.01% versus a roughly 3.62% four-week average, both computed against weekly national totals like 11,188, 11,779, 13,502, and 10,495.
9. A simple projection uses the recent weekly pace to fill the year’s remaining weeks. The eight most recent weeks averaged 11,421.25 filings per week. With 11 weeks remaining after week 41, that projects about 125,633.75 additional filings. Adding that to the year-to-date 443,796 gives a rough full-year total near 569,429.75. This forecast is anchored in observed weekly values such as 11,188, 11,779, 13,502, and 10,495.
10. Looking at momentum since the start of 2024 through this latest week, the fitted weekly slope is about +24.08 filings per week. Across 93 observed weeks in that span, the national weekly total moved from about 5,410 at the start of the window to 10,495 now. Extrapolating a year at +24.08 suggests roughly 1,252 more filings per week by this time next year. That would imply a typical weekly level near 11,747 if the 10,495 baseline held. These directional estimates complement the earlier eight-week average of 11,421.25 and the remaining 11-week projection of 125,633.75.

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.