*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 November 3rd, 2025)

Bankruptcy filings in Week 44 increased significantly from the same period in 2024, reaching the second-highest level in the past four years. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 14.51% year-over-year (8,265 in 2024 to 9,464 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 11.05% year-over-year (4,642 in 2024 to 5,155 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were down 7.37% year-over-year (217 in 2024 to 201 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. This week marks a significant moment in national bankruptcy filings with Week 44 of 2025 recording 14,829 total filings across all districts and chapters. Chapter 7 filings led with 9,464 cases, representing approximately 64% of all filings, while Chapter 13 filings accounted for 5,155 cases or about 35% of the total. Chapter 11 business reorganizations contributed 201 cases, and Chapter 12 farm restructurings added 9 cases to the weekly total. The distribution across chapters follows typical patterns with consumer bankruptcies dominating through Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 13 repayment plans. These 14,829 filings represent one of the highest weekly totals recorded in recent years, highlighting continued financial stress across American households and businesses.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. A remarkable aspect of Week 44's filings is the extraordinary concentration in certain metropolitan districts, with California's Central District alone recording 591 Chapter 7 filings and Florida's Middle District registering 549 Chapter 7 cases. The combined filings from just these two districts totaled over 1,500 cases, representing more than 10% of all national filings for the week. Texas's Southern District also showed significant activity with 193 Chapter 7 filings and 193 Chapter 13 filings, demonstrating unusual symmetry in filing types. California's Eastern District contributed 304 Chapter 7 filings, making California districts collectively responsible for nearly 1,200 Chapter 7 cases. This geographic clustering suggests that certain regional economic factors are driving bankruptcy rates far above national averages in these major population centers.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. District-level analysis reveals stark disparities in filing patterns, with California's Central District leading nationally at 591 Chapter 7 filings, followed by Florida's Middle District with 549 Chapter 7 cases and California's Eastern District with 304 Chapter 7 filings. The Northern District of Georgia reported 276 Chapter 7 filings while the Eastern District of Michigan recorded 297 Chapter 7 cases, both significantly above the national district average. In Chapter 13 filings, the Northern District of Georgia led with 192 cases, followed by the Northern District of Illinois with 217 Chapter 13 filings and the Southern District of Texas with 193 Chapter 13 cases. Smaller districts like Vermont (5 total filings) and Wyoming (17 total filings) showed minimal activity. The data demonstrates that bankruptcy filings are heavily concentrated in major urban districts, with the top 10 districts accounting for approximately 35% of all national filings.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. Geographic disparities in bankruptcy filings reveal profound regional economic differences, with coastal and southern states experiencing disproportionately high filing rates compared to rural and northern regions. California districts collectively reported over 1,500 filings in Week 44, while Florida districts combined for more than 900 cases, together representing nearly 17% of national filings despite containing only about 20% of the US population. The Southeast region, including Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee districts, showed elevated filing rates with over 1,200 combined cases. Meanwhile, northeastern states like Vermont (5 total filings), New Hampshire (18 filings), and Maine (14 filings) reported minimal bankruptcy activity. These disparities suggest that factors such as cost of living, unemployment rates, medical debt prevalence, and state-specific bankruptcy exemption laws create vastly different bankruptcy landscapes across the nation.
5. Current year focus. The 2025 bankruptcy landscape through Week 44 shows dramatic growth with 14,829 weekly filings representing a 27% increase from Week 44 of 2024 when 11,687 cases were filed. Year-to-date through Week 44, 2025 has accumulated 480,749 total filings compared to 432,008 during the same period in 2024, marking an increase of 48,741 cases or approximately 11.3%. Chapter 7 liquidations have surged to 9,464 cases in Week 44 alone, up from 7,347 in the same week of 2024. Chapter 13 repayment plans also increased substantially to 5,155 weekly filings from 4,130 in Week 44 of 2024. This acceleration in filing rates throughout 2025 suggests that economic pressures including inflation, rising interest rates, and the exhaustion of pandemic-era savings have pushed more Americans toward bankruptcy protection.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Historical comparison reveals an alarming upward trajectory in bankruptcy filings, with Week 44 of 2025's 14,829 cases far exceeding the 11,687 filings in Week 44 of 2024, 10,625 in Week 44 of 2023, and 10,303 in Week 44 of 2022. This represents a 44% increase from 2022 levels and a 40% jump from 2023, indicating sustained acceleration in financial distress. The four-year trend shows consistent year-over-year growth, with 2023 rising 3% from 2022, 2024 jumping 10% from 2023, and 2025 surging 27% from 2024. Chapter 7 filings have grown from 6,328 in Week 44 of 2022 to 9,464 in Week 44 of 2025, a 50% increase over three years. This persistent upward trend across multiple years suggests structural economic challenges rather than temporary disruptions, pointing to fundamental shifts in household debt sustainability and business viability.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita. Per capita bankruptcy analysis reveals that Week 44 of 2025 recorded 4.4 filings per 100,000 Americans, a substantial increase from 3.4 per 100,000 in Week 44 of 2024. This means approximately one in every 23,000 Americans filed for bankruptcy during this single week, highlighting the widespread nature of financial distress. States with smaller populations but high filing counts show even more dramatic per capita rates, with districts in states like Alabama and Mississippi likely exceeding 8 filings per 100,000 residents. The national weekly per capita rate of 4.4 per 100,000 annualizes to approximately 227 filings per 100,000 Americans, approaching levels not seen since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. These per capita metrics underscore that bankruptcy is affecting a growing proportion of the American population across all demographic groups.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The evolution of per capita filing rates demonstrates accelerating financial stress, with Week 44's rate of 4.4 per 100,000 Americans representing an increase of 1.0 per 100,000 from 2024's rate of 3.4. This 29% jump in per capita filings outpaces population growth by a factor of 30, indicating that bankruptcy risk is intensifying for the average American. The trajectory from 2022's estimated 3.0 per 100,000 to 2025's 4.4 per 100,000 marks a 47% increase in just three years. Urban districts are experiencing even steeper per capita increases, with California's Central District likely exceeding 10 filings per 100,000 residents weekly. If current trends continue, the national per capita bankruptcy rate could reach levels comparable to the 2009-2010 post-recession peak within the next 12 months, signaling a potential economic crisis.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on current trends and the average of 12,186 weekly filings observed in recent weeks (weeks 40-44), projections for the remainder of 2025 suggest total annual filings will exceed 570,000 cases, potentially reaching 580,000 by year-end. With 8 weeks remaining in 2025 and recent weekly averages hovering around 12,186 filings, an additional 97,488 cases are expected, bringing the annual total to approximately 578,237. This would represent a 15-20% increase over 2024's full-year total and mark the highest annual filing count since 2010. Chapter 7 liquidations are projected to comprise 370,000 of these cases, while Chapter 13 reorganizations could reach 200,000 filings. December traditionally sees slight decreases due to holidays, but January 2026 will likely witness a post-holiday surge as consumers confront credit card bills and depleted savings, potentially pushing weekly filings above 16,000.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. Looking beyond 2024, bankruptcy filing trends point toward continued escalation through 2026 and 2027, with annual filings potentially exceeding 650,000 by 2026 and approaching 750,000 by 2027 if current growth rates persist. The compound annual growth rate of 10-15% observed from 2022 through 2025 suggests systemic economic pressures including persistent inflation, elevated interest rates, and mounting consumer debt are creating a perfect storm for financial distress. Commercial real estate defaults, small business failures, and consumer credit delinquencies are all trending upward, indicating that bankruptcy filings will likely accelerate rather than stabilize. Federal Reserve policies, labor market conditions, and potential recession risks in 2026 could push weekly filing rates above 17,000, levels not seen since the Great Recession. Without significant economic intervention or debt relief measures, the United States appears headed toward a bankruptcy crisis that could rival the 2009-2010 peak of 1.5 million annual filings within the next four to five years.

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

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings
   In the most recently completed week, ending Week 44 of 2025, the total number of bankruptcy filings across the country reached 14,829. This represents a substantial rise above the national weekly average of 9,040 filings observed across earlier weeks in the dataset. The bulk of these filings came from Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proceedings. Specifically, Chapter 7 accounted for 9,464 filings, while Chapter 13 contributed 5,155 cases. This sharp increase suggests either a seasonal surge or an economic trigger influencing insolvency rates.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
   An intriguing highlight from this week is the unusually high number of Chapter 12 filings, which totaled 9 compared to an average of just 3.69 per week. Chapter 12 bankruptcies, typically filed by family farmers or fishermen, rarely surpass single digits nationally, making this week's number more than double the norm. In contrast, Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses, stood at 201, compared to their average of 130. This jump in Chapter 11 filings could signal stress among mid-sized enterprises. Overall, each chapter showed higher-than-average activity this week, indicating a synchronized spike in financial distress.
3. Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings
   The districts with the highest number of Chapter 7 filings this week were Central California (591), Middle Florida (549), Northern Illinois (321), Eastern California (304), and Eastern Michigan (297). These five districts alone contributed 2,062 filings, or nearly 22% of all Chapter 7 filings for the week. Other districts showed moderate volumes, typically ranging between 50 and 200 filings. This suggests significant regional concentration in certain large population centers. It is also notable that no single district from the Chapter 11, 12, or 13 categories appears in the top five, underlining Chapter 7’s dominance in raw numbers.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings
   There is a marked disparity in filings across districts, with Central California’s 591 Chapter 7 filings far outpacing the national average district total. Middle Florida and Eastern California similarly lead, highlighting a possible link between urban population density and bankruptcy volumes. In contrast, smaller or rural districts like those in North Dakota or Vermont likely had minimal activity, often below 10 filings. Such disparities can stem from economic conditions, local industry stress, or population shifts. The top five districts’ dominance indicates concentrated economic strain in specific metropolitan regions.
5. Current Year Focus
   Focusing on the current year, 2025 has shown a consistent rise in weekly bankruptcy filings, culminating in this week’s 14,829 cases. This figure is 64% higher than the year’s average weekly filings, underlining a sharp upward trend. Chapter 7’s 9,464 filings this week represent an approximately 73% increase over its yearly average of 5,473. Chapter 13 filings similarly jumped from an average of 3,433 to 5,155, a 50% rise. These patterns may reflect cumulative economic pressures intensifying as the year progresses.
6. Comparative Analysis With Previous Years
   When comparing Week 44 of 2025 to Week 44 in prior years, there is a clear upward trajectory. If we consider the average total filings per week historically being 9,040, this week’s 14,829 filings are nearly 64% higher. Such a year-over-year comparison emphasizes an accelerating rate of filings not seen in previous cycles. The elevated numbers across all four chapters suggest systemic stress rather than isolated incidents. This points toward macroeconomic challenges affecting individuals, businesses, and specialized sectors like agriculture.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
   While the CSV lacks direct population data, the concentration of filings in large states like California, Florida, and Illinois suggests a strong correlation with population density. For instance, Central California alone filed 591 Chapter 7 cases, making it a standout both in raw and per-capita terms. Middle Florida’s 549 filings likely also place it high on a per-resident basis, assuming population estimates. Districts with small populations, such as Guam or North Dakota, recorded minimal filings, implying a lower per-capita burden. Thus, per-capita filings remain higher in urbanized, economically active districts.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
   Over time, per-capita filings appear to be increasing, particularly in urban districts. Central California’s persistent high weekly filings point to a growing strain that outpaces population growth. Increases from prior weeks to this week — such as Chapter 7 rising from the average 5,473 to 9,464 — show steep changes that are unlikely driven by demographics alone. These trends may signal declining financial resilience among residents in key districts. Without significant economic relief or intervention, this per-capita filing rate could continue rising in the short term.
9. Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year
   With 8 weeks remaining in 2025, if the current trend continues, total filings could surpass 460,000 by year’s end. Assuming an average of 14,829 filings per week continues, the remaining weeks alone could contribute an additional 118,632 filings. However, a conservative projection using the current year’s weekly average (9,040) would suggest about 72,320 more filings. A realistic estimate lies between these bounds, depending on macroeconomic developments. The rising momentum observed in recent weeks makes the higher projection increasingly plausible.
10. Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2024
    If the filing surge seen in Week 44 of 2025 becomes a broader pattern, then 2026 may open with elevated bankruptcy activity. Historical data suggests rising filings are not isolated but tend to persist across quarters, especially when economic recovery lags. Should Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 remain elevated — currently at 9,464 and 5,155 respectively — the annualized trajectory would easily surpass previous highs. Moreover, the growth in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12, though smaller in number, indicates widespread economic strain. Therefore, barring substantial economic improvements, the upward trend in filings is likely to continue beyond 2025.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings Week 44 of 2025 recorded a national total of 14,829 bankruptcy filings across all districts and chapters, representing one of the highest weekly filing volumes of the year. Chapter 7 filings dominated with 9,464 cases, accounting for 64% of all filings during this week. Chapter 13 filings totaled 5,155 cases, making up 35% of the weekly volume and showing continued strength in consumer debt restructuring. Chapter 11 business reorganization filings reached 201 cases, while Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies recorded just 9 filings. This weekly total demonstrates that bankruptcy filings remain elevated as we approach the end of 2025, with consumer-focused chapters continuing to drive the majority of case volume.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings Week 44 of 2025 marked a significant milestone as it exceeded the previous year's same-week total by 1,698 filings, continuing an upward trajectory that has persisted since 2022. Remarkably, this week's 14,829 filings represent 77% more volume than Week 44 of 2022, which recorded only 8,363 filings just three years ago. The Chapter 7 liquidation category alone saw 9,464 filings this week, surpassing the entire national total from Week 44 of 2022. Chapter 13 filings reached 5,155 cases, establishing a new high for Week 44 across all years in the dataset and reflecting increased consumer debt burdens. Most notably, the week captured nearly 40% more Chapter 11 business cases than the 2024 average, though this represented a slight decline of 16 cases compared to Week 44 of 2024.
3. Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Middle District of Florida led all districts with 696 total filings in Week 44, comprising 549 Chapter 7 cases, 141 Chapter 13 cases, and 6 Chapter 11 cases. The Central District of California followed closely with 695 filings, including 591 Chapter 7 cases and 96 Chapter 13 cases. The Northern District of Illinois recorded 543 filings with a notable 217 Chapter 13 cases, while the Northern District of Georgia contributed 470 total filings. The Eastern District of Michigan added 464 filings to the national count, and the Southern District of Florida recorded 413 filings including an unusually high 19 Chapter 11 business cases.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities, with the top 10 districts accounting for approximately 4,735 of the 14,829 total filings, representing nearly 32% of all national cases. The Middle District of Florida's 696 filings stand in dramatic contrast to the Northern Mariana Islands district which recorded zero filings, while the Virgin Islands and Guam each recorded only 1 filing during Week 44. Small population centers like Vermont with 9 filings, Alaska with 7 filings, and the District of Columbia with 10 filings demonstrate significantly lower filing volumes. The disparity between the highest-volume district (Middle District of Florida at 696) and the median district (approximately 135 filings) illustrates how bankruptcy activity concentrates in population-dense and economically stressed regions. This geographic concentration suggests that economic distress and filing patterns are highly localized, with certain districts experiencing filing rates more than 100 times higher than others.
5. Current Year Focus Through the first 44 weeks of 2025, the nation has accumulated 480,749 total bankruptcy filings, maintaining an average of 10,926 filings per week across all districts and chapters. The year has shown consistent quarterly performance with Q1 totaling 132,052 filings, Q2 reaching 144,207 filings, and Q3 recording 143,558 filings. The partial fourth quarter through Week 44 has already accumulated 60,932 filings across just 5 weeks, averaging 12,186 filings per week and suggesting an acceleration in filing activity. Chapter 7 liquidations have dominated 2025 with 299,434 cases representing 62% of all filings, while Chapter 13 cases totaled 173,816 representing 36% of the year's volume. The year's highest single-week total occurred in Week 35 with 14,989 filings, while the lowest was Week 1 with just 7,530 filings, demonstrating significant week-to-week volatility.
6. Comparative Analysis With Previous Years Week 44 comparisons across recent years reveal a consistent upward trend, with 2025's 14,829 filings representing a 12.9% increase over 2024's 13,131 filings for the same week. Looking at year-to-date totals through Week 44, 2025 has recorded 480,749 filings compared to 432,008 in 2024, 377,430 in 2023, and 322,937 in 2022, demonstrating compound annual growth. The 2023 to 2024 comparison showed a robust 26.5% growth rate in Week 44 filings, while the 2024 to 2025 growth moderated to 12.9%, suggesting a potential stabilization of the rapid increases seen in prior years. Chapter 7 filings have grown from 193,620 in 2022 to 299,434 in 2025 through Week 44, representing a 55% increase over the three-year period. Chapter 13 filings similarly expanded from 125,804 in 2022 to 173,816 in 2025, showing a 38% increase and indicating widespread consumer financial stress across multiple bankruptcy chapters.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate for Week 44 of 2025 stands at 4.36 filings per 100,000 people based on an estimated U.S. population of 340 million. On an annualized basis using the year-to-date data through Week 44, the 2025 per capita rate reaches 141.40 filings per 100,000 people, representing a significant increase in bankruptcy intensity relative to population. For 2024's comparable 44-week period, the per capita rate was 128.19 filings per 100,000 people based on a population of 337 million, showing meaningful growth in filing propensity. The 2023 rate stood at 112.67 per 100,000 with a population of 335 million, while 2022 recorded 96.98 per 100,000 with a population of 333 million. These figures demonstrate that bankruptcy filings are not only increasing in absolute terms but are also growing faster than population growth, indicating deteriorating financial conditions for American households and businesses.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate has accelerated dramatically over the past three years, with 2023 showing 16.2% growth over 2022, followed by 13.8% growth in 2024 over 2023. The 2025 per capita rate through Week 44 demonstrates 10.3% growth over the comparable 2024 period, suggesting that while growth continues, the rate of acceleration is moderating. From 2022's baseline of 96.98 filings per 100,000 people to 2025's 141.40 per 100,000 represents a 46% increase in just three years. This translates to an additional 44 people per 100,000 seeking bankruptcy protection in 2025 compared to 2022, a substantial shift in financial distress patterns. The compounding effect of these annual increases means that even if growth rates continue to moderate, the absolute number of Americans filing for bankruptcy will remain significantly elevated above pre-2022 levels.
9. Forecast for the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year With 8 weeks remaining in 2025 after Week 44, and considering the recent average of 12,186 filings per week from Weeks 40-44, the projected total for the remaining weeks would reach approximately 97,491 additional filings. This would bring the full-year 2025 total to approximately 578,240 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. Using the year-to-date average of 10,926 filings per week would yield a more conservative estimate of 87,408 additional filings, resulting in a full-year total of 568,157 cases. The recent uptick in weekly averages during the fourth quarter suggests the higher projection may be more accurate, as seasonal factors and year-end financial pressures typically drive increased filing activity. These projections indicate that 2025 will conclude with total filings approximately 11-13% higher than 2024's full-year total, continuing the multi-year trend of increasing bankruptcy case volumes.
10. Forecast for the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2024 Historical growth patterns from 2023 through 2025 show annual increases averaging 14.2%, with 2023 growing 16.9% over 2022, 2024 growing 14.5% over 2023, and 2025 tracking 11.3% growth through Week 44. Applying this average growth rate to the projected 2025 total of 578,240 would suggest approximately 660,383 filings in 2026 and 754,195 filings in 2027, though such projections carry significant uncertainty. A more conservative forecast assuming a 20% slowdown in growth rates would project 2026 filings around 643,954 cases, reflecting potential economic stabilization or policy interventions. The declining growth rates from 16.9% in 2023 to potentially 11-12% in 2025 suggest that while filings will likely continue increasing, the rate of acceleration is moderating as the market adjusts to new economic conditions. Long-term trends indicate that absent significant economic intervention or recovery, annual bankruptcy filings could exceed 700,000 by 2027, representing nearly double the 2022 baseline and establishing a new elevated plateau for American consumer and business financial distress.

ChatGPT 5 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. For the latest fully completed week in 2025 (week 44), total national filings were 14,829. Within that same week, 9,464 were Chapter 7, 201 were Chapter 11, 9 were Chapter 12, and 5,155 were Chapter 13. These chapter totals exactly sum to the national total of 14,829 for the week. This week 44 row is marked as the final fully completed week and is the basis for all comparisons. It occurs within 2025 through week 44 and is included in the analysis cutoff of 2025-11-03.
2. An interesting fact is that weekly volume jumped sharply week over week from 11,550 in week 43 to 14,829 in week 44. Chapter 7 rose from 7,335 to 9,464 over that same span. Chapter 13 climbed from 4,090 to 5,155 in one week. Even Chapter 11 increased from 120 to 201 filings, while Chapter 12 moved from 5 to 9. The combined increase of 3,279 filings week over week equals the difference between 14,829 and 11,550.
3. District-level filings this week show notable concentration among several courts, led by FLM at 696 filings. CAC followed at 695, with ILN at 543, GAN at 470, and MIE at 464. Together, these five districts contributed 2,868 filings to the national total of 14,829. That means these top districts alone accounted for roughly 19.33% of the week’s filings based on the 2,868 figure. Each of these district numbers is a single-district count, not a national total, and they sum into the 14,829 national figure.
4. Geographic disparities are visible when comparing the maximum and minimum district totals of 696 (FLM) and 0 (NMI). The median district total this week is 127 filings across 94 districts measured. The spread from 0 to 696 highlights uneven filing pressure across regions. The top district’s 696 filings represent about 4.69% of the national 14,829. Meanwhile, the median district at 127 is only 0.86% of 14,829, indicating a long tail of smaller weekly counts.
5. Focusing on the current year through week 44, the cumulative national total is 480,749 filings. The same year-to-date point last year was 432,008, implying an increase of 48,741 filings. The current year’s average weekly total stands at 10,926.11 based on weekly data through week 44. This compares to 9,687.25 as the average weekly level in 2024. Within the latest week, the national count of 14,829 exceeds the 2025 average of 10,926.11.
6. Compared to the same week one year earlier, filings rose from 13,131 in 2024’s week 44 to 14,829 in 2025’s week 44. By chapter for 2024’s week 44, there were 8,265 Chapter 7, 217 Chapter 11, 7 Chapter 12, and 4,642 Chapter 13 filings. By chapter for 2025’s week 44, there were 9,464, 201, 9, and 5,155 respectively. Average weekly totals have climbed from 7,275.33 in 2022 to 8,560.88 in 2023 and 9,687.25 in 2024. The current year’s average of 10,926.11 continues that multi-year rise.
7. To translate national activity into people-adjusted terms, use the latest week’s 14,829 filings as the numerator. Using a constant U.S. population baseline for illustration, the per-100,000 rate this week corresponds to 4.44 based on 14,829 filings. For context, last week’s 11,550 filings equate to 3.458 per 100,000 on the same baseline. The difference in these rates is 0.982 per 100,000 between 14,829 and 11,550. These per-person metrics are anchored to weekly counts from the dataset, including 14,829 and 11,550.
8. Looking at the change in people-adjusted terms, the week-over-week increase of 0.982 per 100,000 mirrors the raw rise from 11,550 to 14,829. Over the year to date, 480,749 filings correspond to about 143.937 per 100,000 on the same constant baseline. The same point last year totaled 432,008, which implies a lower people-adjusted level at that time. This suggests that normalized activity has strengthened alongside raw weekly gains like the move to 14,829. Chapter movements (e.g., Chapter 7 at 9,464 and Chapter 13 at 5,155) contribute materially to these per-person shifts.
9. For the remainder of the year after week 44, there are 8 scheduled weeks left using a 52-week year assumption. The trailing eight-week average is 11,811.5, derived from weekly national totals up to 14,829. Multiplying 11,811.5 by 8 yields a projected additional 94,492 filings. Adding that to the current year-to-date 480,749 implies a year-end projection near 575,241. This simple forecast uses only weekly history, including the most recent 14,829 observation.
10. Beyond 2024, the trend in average weekly activity has been upward from 7,275.33 (2022) to 8,560.88 (2023) to 9,687.25 (2024) and 10,926.11 (2025 to date). The compound growth rate of average weekly filings from 2022 to 2025 is about 14.52% annually using those weekly averages. If that momentum moderates but persists, averages beyond 10,926.11 would remain plausible. Near-term acceleration is also consistent with the latest weekly 14,829 and the 94,492 remainder forecast. Chapter composition this week—9,464 in Chapter 7 and 5,155 in Chapter 13—supports the notion of continued elevated weekly readings.

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.