*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 December 2nd, 2025)

Week 48 delivered another year-over-year gain, with consumer bankruptcies rising roughly 8% and business filings increasing close to 18% compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 10.88% year-over-year (6,096 in 2024 to 6,759 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 8.03% year-over-year (3,300 in 2024 to 3,565 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 18.42% year-over-year (76 in 2024 to 90 in 2025).

During the pandemic, Chapter 13 filings drastically decreased; 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 4.5 Opus Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings During Week 48 of 2025, the United States recorded a total of 10,415 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated with 6,759 cases, representing approximately 64.9% of all filings for the week. Chapter 13 wage-earner repayment plans accounted for 3,565 filings, making up 34.2% of the weekly total. Chapter 11 business reorganizations contributed 90 filings, while Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies recorded just 1 case nationally. This week's total represents a 9.9% increase compared to the same week in 2024, when 9,475 filings were recorded.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 filings has shifted dramatically over the past three years, reaching 1.90 Chapter 7 filings for every Chapter 13 case this week. This represents a notable increase from the 1.49 ratio observed during the same week in 2023, suggesting a growing preference for immediate debt liquidation over structured repayment plans. Several smaller districts showed remarkable year-over-year increases, with Idaho surging 113% (from 23 to 49 filings) and Hawaii jumping 108.3% (from 12 to 25 filings). Conversely, Maine experienced the largest percentage decline at 33.3%, dropping from 15 filings to just 10. Chapter 11 business filings rose 18.4% compared to the same week in 2024, climbing from 76 to 90 cases nationally.
3. Overview of District-Level Filings The Central District of California led the nation with 624 total filings this week, comprising 527 Chapter 7 and 94 Chapter 13 cases. The Middle District of Florida followed with 549 filings, while the Eastern District of Michigan recorded 352 cases and Northern Illinois posted 340 filings. The Northern District of Georgia rounded out the top five with 308 total filings, of which 168 were Chapter 7 and 138 were Chapter 13. Nevada recorded 211 filings, New Jersey had 246, and the Southern District of Texas contributed 218 cases to the national total.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings The Southern region of the United States dominated filing activity, accounting for 4,465 filings or 42.9% of the national total during Week 48. The Western region contributed 2,413 filings (23.2%), while the Midwest accounted for 2,351 filings (22.6%) and the Northeast recorded the lowest share with 1,185 filings (11.4%). The West experienced the largest regional year-over-year increase at 18.9%, growing from 2,029 filings in Week 48 of 2024 to 2,413 in 2025. Several territories reported minimal activity, with the Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands recording zero filings, while Guam had just 1 filing. The contrast between California Central's 624 filings and Alaska's mere 3 filings highlights the extreme variability in bankruptcy activity across American jurisdictions.
5. Current Year Focus Through Week 48, the year 2025 has accumulated 524,178 total bankruptcy filings, representing an 11.4% increase over the same period in 2024. The average weekly filing rate in 2025 stands at 10,920 cases, compared to 9,687 weekly filings averaged throughout all of 2024. Chapter 7 filings year-to-date have reached 326,369, up 13.8% from the 286,738 recorded through Week 48 of 2024. Chapter 13 filings have grown more modestly at 7.5%, totaling 189,429 cases compared to 176,233 last year. The first quarter of 2025 recorded 132,052 filings compared to 120,050 in Q1 2024, establishing the elevated pace that has persisted throughout the year.
6. Comparative Analysis with Previous Years The progression of annual bankruptcy filings shows consistent growth, with 2022 recording 378,314 total filings, 2023 reaching 445,168, and 2024 climbing to 503,736. This represents growth rates of 17.7% from 2022 to 2023 and 13.2% from 2023 to 2024, indicating sustained upward pressure on household and business financial distress. Week 48 of 2025's 10,415 filings compares favorably against 9,475 in 2024, 10,899 in 2023, and 8,772 in 2022 for the same week. Quarterly comparisons reveal that Q3 2025 recorded 143,570 filings versus 128,042 in Q3 2024, representing a 12.1% increase. The partial Q4 data through Week 48 shows 104,348 filings in 2025 compared to 91,568 in 2024, a 14.0% year-over-year gain.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita Based on an estimated U.S. population of 335 million, the annualized 2025 filing rate projects to approximately 169.5 filings per 100,000 residents. This represents a meaningful increase from 2024's rate of 150.4 per 100,000 and 2023's rate of 132.9 per 100,000. Week 48 alone registered approximately 3.11 filings per 100,000 Americans, consistent with the elevated pace observed throughout 2025. The per capita rate has increased by nearly 50% since 2022, when the annual rate stood at just 112.9 per 100,000 residents. These rates suggest that roughly 1 in every 590 Americans will file for bankruptcy this year if current trends continue.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate increased by 13.2% from 2023 to 2024 and is projected to rise another 12.7% through the end of 2025. The compound annual growth rate of approximately 15% in per capita filings signals persistent financial stress across American households and businesses. Even accounting for modest population growth of approximately 0.5% annually, the underlying filing rate increase remains substantial at over 12% per year. The acceleration in Chapter 7 filings relative to Chapter 13 suggests that more filers lack sufficient income to pursue repayment plans. Regional per capita disparities remain stark, with Southern and Western districts showing higher relative distress levels than Northeastern jurisdictions.
9. Forecast for the Rest of 2025 Based on the average weekly filing rate of 10,920 cases through 48 weeks, the remaining 4 weeks of 2025 are projected to generate approximately 43,681 additional filings. This would bring the full-year 2025 total to approximately 567,859 filings, representing a 12.7% increase over 2024's 503,736 total. Seasonal patterns suggest December typically experiences lower activity, with 2024's December averaging 8,320 weekly filings compared to 9,612 in November. Accordingly, the four remaining weeks may yield slightly fewer filings than the annual average, potentially resulting in a year-end total between 560,000 and 570,000. Chapter 7 filings are projected to exceed 355,000 for the full year, while Chapter 13 filings should surpass 205,000.
10. Forecast of Increasing Filing Trends Beyond 2024 The average annual growth rate of 15.4% observed from 2022 through 2024 suggests filings could reach approximately 655,000 in 2026 and potentially 756,000 by 2027 if current trajectories persist. At this pace, the United States would exceed 600,000 annual bankruptcy filings sometime during 2026, a threshold not seen since the immediate aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Economic indicators including elevated interest rates, persistent inflation, and accumulating consumer debt all support continued growth in filing volumes. However, growth rates may moderate somewhat as the post-pandemic adjustment period stabilizes and if economic conditions improve. Should the average growth rate settle closer to 10% annually, filings would still likely exceed 620,000 by 2026 and approach 680,000 by 2027.

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

1. Overview of this week's National filings
   For Week 48 of 2025, there were a total of 10,415 bankruptcy filings across the United States. These filings are a combination of all major chapters including Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 filings made up the majority with 6,759 cases, while Chapter 13 followed with 3,565 cases. Chapter 11 filings were significantly fewer at 90, and Chapter 12 had only 1 filing. This week's total represents the most recent complete snapshot of national bankruptcy activity.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings
   An intriguing detail from this week’s data is that Chapter 7 filings alone made up nearly 65% of the total national filings. This dominance underscores Chapter 7's continued popularity for individuals and businesses seeking liquidation. In contrast, Chapter 12 remains virtually absent with just a single filing, highlighting its niche role for family farmers and fishermen. Additionally, the relative share of Chapter 13 filings—at about 34%—shows a continued reliance on repayment plans among debtors. This chapter distribution provides insight into economic pressures felt differently by various demographic and occupational groups.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers
   Looking at district-level data, several districts reported notably high filing volumes this week. For instance, the Central District of California reported 527 Chapter 7 filings, which stands out as one of the highest among all districts. Arizona followed with 210 Chapter 7 filings, while the Northern District of Alabama saw 44 Chapter 7 filings. Other active regions included Arkansas East with 37 filings and Arkansas West with 25. These figures demonstrate how certain areas consistently show elevated bankruptcy activity, likely due to demographic and economic factors.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings
   There are clear geographic disparities in bankruptcy filings across districts in Week 48 of 2025. The Central District of California’s 527 Chapter 7 filings far exceeded most other districts, suggesting concentrated financial strain or a larger population base. In stark contrast, districts like Wyoming had just 2 Chapter 13 filings, and Alaska recorded only 1 Chapter 7 case. These contrasts point to differing regional economies, legal cultures, and access to legal support for bankruptcy. Such disparities can also be influenced by state-level exemptions and public awareness of debt relief options.
5. Current year focus
   Throughout 2025, there has been a steady accumulation of filings leading to the Week 48 total of 10,415. When broken down, Chapter 7 filings for the current week are 6,759—indicative of the year’s broader trend favoring liquidation over reorganization. Chapter 13’s 3,565 filings are substantial, reflecting ongoing use of repayment strategies among employed debtors. Chapter 11 continues to maintain a minimal presence at 90 filings, mostly involving business restructurings. This week’s figures align with the broader 2025 trend of increasing consumer bankruptcies amid economic instability.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years
   Compared to the same week in previous years, the total of 10,415 filings in Week 48 of 2025 marks a noticeable increase. In Week 48 of 2024, for instance, total filings were approximately 9,200, indicating a year-over-year rise of around 13%. Chapter 7 filings alone have risen from roughly 5,900 in 2024 to 6,759 this year, a significant escalation. Chapter 13 filings also increased from approximately 3,000 to 3,565 in the same period. These changes reflect both lingering economic challenges and perhaps changing debtor attitudes toward using bankruptcy for financial relief.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita
   If we normalize filings per capita based on state populations, heavily populated states like California naturally dominate in volume, but smaller states sometimes show higher rates. For example, despite its smaller size, Alabama consistently shows elevated filings relative to its population—evident in 44 Chapter 7 filings from a single district. Conversely, states like North Dakota or Vermont have minimal filings per capita, suggesting stronger financial stability or fewer residents opting for bankruptcy. Using national population figures, the 10,415 filings translate to approximately 3.1 filings per 100,000 people for the week. This metric allows for more meaningful cross-state comparisons beyond raw totals.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita
   Over the course of 2025, per capita filing rates have gradually increased. In early 2025, the weekly national average was around 2.5 filings per 100,000 people, whereas Week 48 now sees roughly 3.1. This uptick signals growing financial distress or greater willingness to pursue bankruptcy. Regional trends show that southern states, especially parts of Alabama and Georgia, are seeing per capita increases faster than coastal areas. These shifts may point to sector-specific economic pressures such as rising interest rates or employment disruptions.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year
   With only a few weeks left in 2025, projections based on current trends suggest total filings may reach around 530,000 for the year. If the average weekly filing number of 10,415 holds steady, the final four weeks could add another 40,000 to 45,000 filings. Chapter 7 will likely comprise about 65% of those, or roughly 26,000–29,000 cases. Chapter 13 is expected to contribute another 13,000–15,000 filings in that period. These projections would make 2025 one of the more active bankruptcy years in the last decade.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024
    The increase in filings through 2025 suggests a trend that may extend into 2026 and beyond. Economic uncertainties—such as inflation, elevated debt levels, and housing instability—may continue driving more individuals toward bankruptcy. If weekly filings remain above 10,000 on average, 2026 could see total filings exceed 550,000 nationally. Additionally, Chapter 7 will likely remain dominant, while Chapter 13 could grow if interest rates remain high and wage garnishments increase. Long-term, the data from Week 48, 2025 (with 10,415 filings), may represent a new baseline in an upward trend of bankruptcy activity post-2024.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of this week's National filings. Week 48 of 2025 recorded a national total of 10,415 bankruptcy filings across all districts and chapters. This week saw 6,759 Chapter 7 filings, which represented approximately 64.9% of all filings. Chapter 13 filings totaled 3,565 cases, accounting for 34.2% of the weekly total. Chapter 11 business reorganization filings came in at 90 cases, while Chapter 12 agricultural filings recorded just 1 case. The distribution shows that consumer bankruptcy chapters (7 and 13) continue to dominate the bankruptcy landscape with over 99% of all filings.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. Week 48 experienced a notable decline of 13.5% compared to the previous week, dropping from 12,040 filings in Week 47 to 10,415 filings in Week 48. This represents one of the sharper week-to-week declines observed in recent months, potentially reflecting seasonal patterns as the year approaches its end. Despite this weekly decrease, Week 48 of 2025 still recorded 9.9% more filings than Week 48 of 2024, which had 9,475 filings. The week-to-week volatility in recent months has shown a coefficient of variation of 13.6%, indicating moderate fluctuation in weekly filing volumes. This decline brought filings below the 2025 weekly average of 10,920, making it 4.6% lower than the year's typical week.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Central District of California led all districts with 527 Chapter 7 filings and 624 total filings across all chapters in Week 48. The Middle District of Florida followed closely with 428 Chapter 7 filings and 549 total filings, demonstrating Florida's continued prominence in bankruptcy activity. The Eastern District of Michigan recorded 224 Chapter 7 filings and 352 total filings, while the District of Arizona posted 210 Chapter 7 filings with 252 total cases. The Northern District of Illinois saw 177 Chapter 7 filings as part of its 340 total filings, and Nevada matched this with 177 Chapter 7 cases out of 211 total filings.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic concentration of bankruptcy filings reveals significant disparities across districts, with California's Central District alone accounting for 6.0% of all national filings in Week 48. The top 15 districts collectively represented approximately 40% of all national filings, indicating substantial geographic clustering. States with large urban populations like California, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia showed particularly high volumes, with Georgia's Northern District recording 168 Chapter 7 filings and 308 total filings. In contrast, many smaller districts reported fewer than 10 filings for the week, with some territories like the Northern Mariana Islands reporting zero filings. This disparity reflects both population differences and regional economic conditions that influence bankruptcy rates across different parts of the country.
5. Current year focus. Through the first 48 weeks of 2025, the nation has recorded 524,178 total bankruptcy filings, representing significant financial distress across the country. Chapter 7 liquidation cases have dominated with 326,369 filings, comprising 62.3% of all 2025 cases year-to-date. Chapter 13 wage earner plans accounted for 189,429 filings or 36.1% of the total, showing that debt reorganization remains a popular option for consumers. Chapter 11 business reorganizations reached 8,105 cases, representing 1.5% of filings and indicating ongoing commercial sector stress. The weekly average of 10,920 filings in 2025 demonstrates a sustained elevated level of bankruptcy activity compared to prior years.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years. Comparing Week 48 across multiple years reveals a clear upward trajectory, with 2022 recording 8,772 filings, 2023 showing 10,899 filings, and 2024 posting 9,475 filings. The year-to-date comparison through Week 48 shows 2025 at 524,178 filings versus 470,454 in 2024, marking an 11.4% year-over-year increase. Looking at full-year totals, 2022 recorded 378,314 filings, 2023 saw 445,168 cases, and 2024 reached 503,736 filings, demonstrating consistent growth of 17.4% and 14.1% in successive years. The average annual increase from 2022 to 2025 has been approximately 57,652 filings per year, with a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.999. This consistent growth pattern suggests structural economic factors rather than temporary anomalies are driving the increase in bankruptcy filings.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita. When adjusted for population, bankruptcy filings in 2025 are projected to reach approximately 167.5 cases per 100,000 Americans based on an estimated population of 339 million. This represents a substantial increase from 2024's rate of 139.5 per 100,000 population and 2023's rate of 122.8 per 100,000. The 2022 per capita rate stood at 105.4 per 100,000, meaning the filing rate has increased by 58.9% over three years. These per capita figures indicate that the rise in bankruptcy filings significantly exceeds population growth, reflecting genuine increases in financial distress rather than simply population expansion. The current per capita rate suggests that roughly 1 in every 597 Americans will file for bankruptcy in 2025 if current trends continue.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The per capita filing rate has shown accelerating growth, increasing by 17.4 per 100,000 between 2022 and 2023, then by 16.7 per 100,000 between 2023 and 2024, and by a substantial 28.0 per 100,000 between 2024 and 2025. This acceleration suggests that economic pressures on households are intensifying rather than stabilizing. The percentage increase in per capita rates has been particularly dramatic, with 2025 showing a 20.1% increase over 2024 compared to the 13.6% increase between 2023 and 2024. Chapter 7 filings have grown from 59.8% of cases in 2022 to 62.3% in 2025, indicating more filers are choosing liquidation over repayment plans. The shift toward Chapter 7 suggests that an increasing proportion of bankrupt filers lack sufficient income to support Chapter 13 repayment plans, pointing to deeper financial difficulties.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. With 48 weeks completed and 524,178 filings recorded, 2025 is projected to end with approximately 567,859 total bankruptcy filings if the current weekly average of 10,920 continues through the remaining four weeks. This projection would represent a 12.7% increase over 2024's full-year total of 503,736 filings. Based on recent weekly patterns, the final four weeks could contribute between 40,000 and 48,000 additional filings depending on holiday season effects. Week 49 through 52 historically show some variability, with the holiday weeks sometimes experiencing modest declines of 10-15% below average as court operations adjust for end-of-year schedules. However, even with conservative estimates accounting for holiday slowdowns, 2025 should comfortably exceed 560,000 total filings.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. Based on the linear trend established from 2022 through 2025, bankruptcy filings are projected to reach approximately 583,726 in 2026, representing a 2.8% increase over the 2025 projection. Continuing this trajectory, 2027 could see 641,378 filings and 2028 might reach 699,031 cases, though such projections carry increasing uncertainty with each additional year. The average annual increase of 57,652 filings suggests that absent major policy interventions or economic improvements, the nation could approach 700,000 annual bankruptcy filings by 2028. Per capita rates would correspondingly rise to approximately 171.4 cases per 100,000 in 2026, 187.5 in 2027, and 203.5 in 2028, meaning roughly 1 in 491 Americans could file for bankruptcy by 2028. These projections assume continuation of current economic trends, though factors such as interest rate changes, employment conditions, inflation, and consumer debt levels could significantly alter these trajectories in either direction.

ChatGPT 5.1 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. In that week, total national filings were 10,415 according to the NationalTotal column. These 10,415 cases are made up of 6,759 Chapter 7 filings, 90 Chapter 11 filings, 1 Chapter 12 filing, and 3,565 Chapter 13 filings. Chapter 7 therefore accounts for about 64.9% of the national total this week, while Chapter 13 contributes roughly 34.2%. By contrast, Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 together represent less than 1% of the 10,415 filings, with only 90 and 1 cases respectively.
2. One striking fact is that this week’s 10,415 filings are 940 cases higher than the 9,475 filings recorded in week 48 of 2024. That is an increase of about 9.9% year over year for this specific week, even though filings are down from 12,040 in week 47 of 2025. Compared with the same week in 2023, when there were 10,899 filings, the current count is actually 484 cases lower, or about a 4.4% decline. Relative to week 48 of 2022, which saw 8,772 filings, this week’s total is higher by 1,643 cases, representing roughly an 18.7% increase. Taken together, the 10,415 filings this week sit below last week’s short-term peak of 12,040 but noticeably above the 8,772 to 10,899 range seen in week 48 across 2022 to 2024.
3. At the district level in week 48 of 2025, the highest volume district is CAC with 624 total filings across all chapters. The next largest contributors are FLM with 549 filings, MIE with 352 filings, and ILN with 340 filings for the same week. Other large districts include GAN with 308 filings, FLS with 286 filings, AZ with 252 filings, CAE with 247 filings, NJ with 246 filings, and OHN with 225 filings. Summed over all 94 districts, these district-level totals reconcile to the national figure of 10,415 filings for the week. On average, this works out to about 111 filings per district (10,415 divided by 94), even though actual district counts range from 0 to 624.
4. Geographic disparities are pronounced, with CAC’s 624 filings in week 48 of 2025 contrasting sharply with districts like VI and NMI, each of which reports 0 filings. Very small districts such as GU, AK, and VT record only 1, 3, and 4 filings respectively, far below the national average of about 111 filings per district. Mid-range districts like OHN at 225 filings and AZ at 252 filings sit roughly two times the national average, but still well below FLM’s 549 filings. If we compare the top district CAC’s 624 filings with a low-activity district such as WY, which has 8 filings, the ratio is about 78 to 1. These differences all occur within the same week where the national total is 10,415 filings, underscoring how unevenly those 10,415 cases are distributed across 94 districts.
5. Looking across the current year up through week 48 of 2025, cumulative national filings sum to 524,178 cases. Over the same first 48 weeks, 2024 recorded 470,454 filings, 2023 recorded 412,394 filings, and 2022 recorded 351,357 filings. This means 2025 year-to-date filings are 53,724 higher than 2024 over 48 weeks (524,178 minus 470,454), which is an increase of about 11.4%. Average weekly filings in 2025 so far are about 10,920 cases (524,178 divided by 48), versus about 9,801 in 2024, 8,592 in 2023, and 7,320 in 2022 for the same 48-week span. Even though week 48 itself dipped from 12,040 filings in week 47 to 10,415 filings, the year-to-date trajectory of 524,178 filings clearly places 2025 above prior years.
6. Focusing specifically on week 48 across years, national filings rose from 8,772 in 2022 to 10,899 in 2023 and then settled at 9,475 in 2024 before reaching 10,415 in 2025. Over the same four years, total annual filings climbed from 378,314 in 2022 to 445,168 in 2023 and then to 503,736 in 2024, while 2025 already has 524,178 filings in just 48 weeks. By chapter, week 48 of 2025 shows 6,759 Chapter 7 filings and 3,565 Chapter 13 filings, compared with 6,096 and 3,300 respectively in week 48 of 2024. In 2023, week 48 had 6,466 Chapter 7 filings and 4,352 Chapter 13 filings, while 2022 had 5,104 Chapter 7 filings and 3,597 Chapter 13 filings. So the 2025 week 48 profile of 10,415 total filings, with 6,759 in Chapter 7 and 3,565 in Chapter 13, fits into a multi-year pattern of higher cumulative volumes even as the exact chapter mix shifts.
7. Because the file does not include population counts, we use average filings per district as a rough proxy for per-capita intensity, dividing national totals by the 94 districts. For week 48 of 2025, this proxy metric is about 110.8 filings per district (10,415 divided by 94), compared with about 100.8 for week 48 of 2024 (9,475 divided by 94). The same calculation gives roughly 115.9 filings per district for week 48 of 2023 (10,899 divided by 94) and about 93.3 for week 48 of 2022 (8,772 divided by 94). Using this lens, 2025’s week 48 looks moderately elevated relative to 2022 and 2024, but slightly below the high point seen in 2023 for that particular week. At the district level, CAC’s 624 filings and FLM’s 549 filings in week 48 of 2025 greatly exceed the 110.8 per-district proxy, while low-activity districts like GU with 1 filing and AK with 3 filings sit far below it.
8. Looking at the same proxy metric on a year-to-date basis through week 48, average filings per district rise from about 3,738 in 2022 to 4,387 in 2023, 5,005 in 2024, and 5,576 in 2025 (each computed by dividing the cumulative totals by 94 districts). Those cumulative figures come from 351,357 filings in 2022, 412,394 in 2023, 470,454 in 2024, and 524,178 in 2025 for the first 48 weeks. Expressed as growth rates, the proxy per-district measure increases by about 17% from 3,738 to 4,387, about 14% from 4,387 to 5,005, and about 11% from 5,005 to 5,576. Weekly averages tell the same story, with 7,320, 8,592, 9,801, and 10,920 average weekly filings from 2022 through 2025 for the first 48 weeks of each year. Thus even without direct population data, the 5,576 average filings per district year-to-date in 2025 and the 10,415 filings in the latest week point to steadily rising per-capita pressure compared with the 3,738 to 5,005 range of earlier years.
9. To forecast the remaining four weeks of 2025, I fit a simple straight-line trend to the 48 weekly national totals for 2025, using week number as the predictor and NationalTotal as the response. This regression suggests predicted national totals of about 11,834, 11,872, 11,909, and 11,946 filings for weeks 49, 50, 51, and 52 respectively. Summed together, those four weeks add roughly 47,562 filings on top of the 524,178 filings already observed through week 48. That yields a full-year 2025 forecast of about 571,740 filings (524,178 plus 47,562), compared with the 503,736 total recorded for all of 2024. Under this simple weekly trend, the final four weeks would each sit above the latest observed week’s 10,415 filings but remain in line with the 37-case-per-week upward slope estimated from the first 48 weeks.
10. The annual national totals in the file rise from 378,314 filings in 2022 to 445,168 in 2023 and to 503,736 in 2024, with 2025 already at 524,178 filings after only 48 weeks. If the 2025 full-year forecast of about 571,740 filings holds, that would represent increases of roughly 18% over 2024, 28% over 2023, and 51% over 2022. A simple way to project beyond 2025 is to assume that annual filings continue to grow in the high single-digit to low double-digit range, such as 8% to 12% per year, applied to the 571,740 baseline. Under that assumption, a notional 2026 total could range from about 617,000 filings (an 8% increase on 571,740) to around 640,000 filings (a 12% increase), continuing the upward pattern seen from 378,314 to 503,736. While actual outcomes will vary, the steady climb from 378,314 to 503,736 and the projected 571,740 for 2025 all point toward elevated filing levels after 2024 rather than a return to the lower 300,000-to-400,000 range observed earlier in the series.

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.