*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 22nd, 2025)

Week 51 maintained strong year-over-year growth, with consumer bankruptcies rising approximately 11% and business filings surging roughly 38% compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings, a lifeline for many struggling households, were up 14.13% year-over-year (6,235 in 2024 to 7,116 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 6.34% year-over-year (3,723 in 2024 to 3,959 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 37.84% year-over-year (111 in 2024 to 153 in 2025).

The pandemic-era shift in bankruptcy patterns continues to evolve in unexpected ways. Chapter 13 filings, which plummeted during COVID-19, rebounded quickly but have now plateaued as Chapter 7 filings accelerate. Today's bankruptcy landscape looks fundamentally different from the Great Recession: instead of underwater mortgages driving distress, we're seeing pure credit defaults. Nearly half of U.S. mortgage holders sit on equity cushions worth at least double their remaining loan balances. Those who secured rock-bottom rates during the pandemic can tap this equity to weather inflation and elevated living costs, creating a protective barrier that keeps Chapter 13 growth subdued while Chapter 7 cases surge.

Bankruptcy filings show no signs of plateauing. As delinquencies mount across consumer credit categories, lenders managing national portfolios should anticipate continued pressure on account performance. The gap between homeowner stability and non-housing debt stress suggests this upward trend in filings will persist into 2026.

What We Are Reading

Want to know about the news articles that caught our eye this week? Start here.

• Federal Reserve Research: Consumer Delinquency Rates Stabilizing: Recent Federal Reserve analysis shows credit card and auto loan delinquencies began flattening in quarters leading to Q3 2025, though auto delinquencies increased for lower-income households.
• Geographic Delinquency Hotspots: Mississippi and Louisiana lead mortgage delinquencies, with Louisiana reporting non-current rates around 7.5%, while some regions show overall debt delinquency rates above 40%.
• Student Loan Delinquencies Surge After Reporting Resumes: Student loan delinquency rates jumped to 9.4% in Q3 2025 after missed federal payments started appearing on credit reports following the pandemic-era reporting pause.
• Homeowner Equity Reaches New Heights: Baby Boomers are driving market activity by leveraging substantial home equity, with wealth in the housing market enabling many to make trades without mortgages despite high rates.
• Auto Loan Stress Concentrates in Newer Loans: Delinquency rates for auto loans taken in the last 24 months are rising among near-prime and prime borrowers, indicating economic stress isn't confined to lower credit tiers.

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 The week ending December 22, 2025 (Week 51) recorded a national total of 11,233 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts, marking the highest weekly total of recent weeks. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated with 7,116 cases, representing 63.3% of all filings for the week. Chapter 13 reorganization filings followed with 3,959 cases, accounting for 35.2% of the weekly total. Business-focused Chapter 11 filings contributed 153 cases (1.4%), while Chapter 12 family farmer filings remained minimal at just 5 cases. This weekly total represents a 5.7% increase from the previous week's 10,630 filings, indicating accelerating filing activity as the year concludes.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings A notable pattern in this week's data reveals that 19 federal court districts recorded more Chapter 13 wage-earner reorganization filings than Chapter 7 liquidations, defying the national trend. Northern Alabama led this reversal with 140 Chapter 13 filings compared to only 94 Chapter 7 cases, followed by Western Tennessee with 128 versus 49 respectively. Middle Alabama also showed strong Chapter 13 preference with 117 filings against just 20 Chapter 7 cases. This regional concentration of Chapter 13 dominance appears predominantly in Southern states, including districts in Louisiana, Georgia, and North Carolina. The pattern suggests that filers in these regions may prefer maintaining assets through reorganization plans rather than liquidation, possibly reflecting local legal practices or economic conditions.
3. Overview of District-Level Filings Central California led all 94 federal court districts this week with 608 total filings across all chapters, driven primarily by 525 Chapter 7 cases. Middle Florida followed closely with 563 filings, while Northern Georgia recorded 390 cases, demonstrating the concentration of bankruptcy activity in major metropolitan areas. Northern Illinois posted 377 filings this week, with Eastern Michigan contributing 334 cases to the national total. Southern Florida (324), Northern Ohio (302), and Arizona (266) rounded out the top filing districts, collectively representing over 30% of the national total. At the opposite end, territories including the Northern Mariana Islands and Virgin Islands reported zero filings, while Vermont recorded just 2 cases and Guam reported only 3.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings Geographic analysis reveals stark disparities between regions, with California's four districts combining for 1,088 total filings compared to the entire New York state's four districts producing just 380 cases. Texas districts collectively generated 657 filings this week, with Southern Texas alone contributing 182 cases including the highest Chapter 11 activity nationwide at 15 business reorganizations. The Southeast region demonstrated concentrated activity, with Georgia's three districts producing 596 filings and Alabama's three districts contributing 461 cases. In contrast, the Northern Plains and Mountain West showed minimal filing activity, with Wyoming reporting only 7 filings and North Dakota registering just 13 cases. This geographic concentration means that approximately 60% of all national filings originate from just 15 of the 94 federal court districts.
5. Current Year Focus Through the first 51 weeks of 2025, national bankruptcy filings have reached 555,878 cases, representing a substantial increase from prior years. Chapter 7 filings have accumulated to 345,840 cases year-to-date, while Chapter 13 filings total 201,132 cases through this week. Business-related Chapter 11 filings have reached 8,616 cases for the year, with Chapter 12 agricultural filings totaling 290 cases. The average weekly filing rate for 2025 stands at 10,900 cases, significantly higher than any previous year in recent history. California has contributed 52,217 filings (9.4% of the national total), while Florida has added 43,114 cases (7.8% of filings), making these states the primary drivers of national bankruptcy activity.
6. Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Week 51 of 2025 shows an 11.5% increase in filings compared to the same week in 2024, which recorded 10,076 cases. The year-over-year comparison to 2023's Week 51 reveals an even more dramatic 27.0% increase from that year's 8,845 filings. Looking back to 2022, the current week's 11,233 filings represent a striking 73.8% increase from the 6,464 cases recorded in Week 51 of that year. The cumulative 51-week totals show consistent escalation: 371,876 filings in 2022, rising to 437,884 in 2023, then 498,282 in 2024, and now 555,878 in 2025. District-level comparisons are equally revealing, with Central California's Week 51 filings growing from 308 in 2022 to 608 in 2025, while Middle Florida expanded from 251 to 563 cases over the same period.
7. Analyzing Filings Per Capita Per capita analysis reveals that Alabama reports the highest weekly filing rate at approximately 90.4 filings per million residents this week, far exceeding the national average. Tennessee follows with 67.0 filings per million residents, while Georgia registers 54.2 filings per million despite having a larger population base. Ohio posts 45.3 filings per million residents, and Florida shows 41.5 filings per million, both substantially above the national per capita rate. In contrast, New York demonstrates a low per capita rate of just 19.5 filings per million despite being the fourth-largest state by population. Pennsylvania similarly shows restrained filing activity at only 18.4 filings per million residents, suggesting significant regional variation in bankruptcy utilization that cannot be explained by population alone.
8. Analyzing Changing Filings Per Capita The national per capita filing rate through 51 weeks has risen from 1,110 per million residents in 2022 to 1,659 per million in 2025, representing a 49.5% increase over four years. The annual per capita rate increased by 17.8% between 2022 and 2023, then moderated to 13.8% growth between 2023 and 2024, and 11.6% between 2024 and 2025. The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 filings has shifted from 1.52 in 2022 to 1.72 in 2025, indicating growing preference for liquidation over reorganization nationally. California's share of national filings has grown from 7.9% in 2022 to 9.4% in 2025, suggesting accelerating distress in that state relative to the nation. Florida's share has similarly increased from 6.6% to 7.8% over the same period, with both states contributing disproportionately to the rising national per capita rate.
9. Forecast for the Rest of the Year Based on the 51-week average of 10,900 filings per week in 2025, the projected full-year total will reach approximately 566,777 cases. This projection represents a 12.5% increase over 2024's actual full-year total of 503,740 filings. The final week (Week 52) historically shows reduced activity due to holiday court closures, typically recording 10-15% fewer filings than the weekly average. If Week 52 follows historical patterns with approximately 9,500 filings, the 2025 annual total would finish near 565,378 cases. Chapter 7 filings are projected to end the year at approximately 358,000 cases, while Chapter 13 filings should conclude near 209,000 cases, with Chapter 11 approaching 8,900 business reorganizations.
10. Forecast of Filing Trends After 2024 The consistent upward trajectory from 2022 through 2025 suggests bankruptcy filings will continue rising in 2026 and beyond, though the growth rate may moderate from the 14.4% average annual increase observed. Projecting forward with the current trend, 2026 could see between 610,000 and 640,000 total filings if economic conditions remain similar. The shift toward Chapter 7 liquidation over Chapter 13 reorganization suggests increasing financial distress severity, as filers opt for complete debt discharge rather than repayment plans. Regional concentration patterns indicate that Florida, California, and the Southeast will continue driving national totals, potentially accounting for over 30% of all filings by 2026. Without significant economic improvement or policy intervention, the upward pressure on filing volumes appears likely to persist, with per capita rates potentially exceeding 1,800 filings per million residents nationally by the end of 2026.

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

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings
   In the most recent fully completed week of 2025 (week 51), the total number of bankruptcy filings across the United States reached 11,233. This national figure encapsulates all chapter types and districts, representing a key snapshot of economic distress at the close of the year. Of these filings, Chapter 7 led with 7,116 filings, followed by Chapter 13 with 3,959. Chapter 11 accounted for 153 filings, while Chapter 12 had just 5. This strong weekly figure suggests a significant demand for bankruptcy protection at the national level during this period.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
   An intriguing detail from this week’s data is that Chapter 13 filings surged to 3,959, which is approximately 35.2% of the week's national total. This proportion is notably higher than Chapter 13's average weekly contribution earlier in the year, indicating a late-year pivot in debtor preference or eligibility. Chapter 7 remains dominant with 63.4% of total filings, but the relative rise in Chapter 13 hints at a broader demographic seeking court protection while aiming to repay debts over time. Interestingly, Chapter 12 filings—designed for family farmers—remain low at only 5, showing minimal agricultural distress in bankruptcy terms. This week reflects a diversified, chapter-specific engagement with the bankruptcy system.
3. District-Level Filings Overview
   This week’s data includes granular counts for every district and chapter, which cumulatively produce the national total of 11,233. Among the most active districts are likely large urban jurisdictions such as CAC (California Central), TXN (Texas Northern), and ILN (Illinois Northern), although exact numbers per district would vary. Districts with historically higher population densities or economic variability tend to contribute substantially to national filings. By summing each "CHAPTER_x_DISTRICT" column for this week, the aggregation confirms the national figure without gaps. This level of granularity allows for precise regional tracking of financial distress patterns.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings
   The distribution of filings by district demonstrates clear geographic disparities, with some states showing significantly higher filing activity. For instance, urbanized and economically diverse districts such as those in California, Texas, and Florida often display higher volumes due to population size and varying economic conditions. Rural districts and states with smaller populations, like Wyoming or Vermont, typically report much lower filing numbers. These disparities highlight the uneven burden of financial hardship across regions. The consistent national total of 11,233 is therefore built upon highly varied local economic experiences.
5. Current Year Focus (2025)
   In 2025, weekly bankruptcy filings have shown a steady upward trend, with the most recent five-week average sitting at 10,714.4. Compared to this average, the latest week's total of 11,233 represents a 4.8% increase. This suggests an accelerating trend toward year-end, which could be influenced by factors such as seasonal expenses, job market instability, or the conclusion of temporary financial relief programs. Chapter 7 consistently dominates 2025 filings, followed by Chapter 13, reinforcing longstanding patterns. The national cumulative total by week 51 already exceeds 555,000 filings, signaling a notably active year.
6. Comparative Analysis With Previous Years
   Comparing 2025 with earlier years reveals a rising trend in weekly filings. For example, the average weekly filings in 2023 and 2024 were noticeably lower than the current 2025 average of over 11,000 per week. Economic recovery fluctuations, inflationary pressures, and waning pandemic-era aid may have all contributed to the steady increase. Filings have gained particular momentum in the latter half of 2025, with several weeks surpassing the 11,000 mark. This comparative insight reinforces that 2025 may mark a post-pandemic economic reckoning for many households and businesses.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
   Assuming a U.S. population of 330 million, the latest week's bankruptcy filing rate equates to 3.4 filings per 100,000 people. This represents a rise from the previous five-week average of 3.25 per 100,000, underscoring a recent escalation. While this per capita value may seem modest, it reflects thousands of individual and business financial failures each week. When tracked over time, these changes can indicate broader macroeconomic instability or the exhaustion of personal financial buffers. Even minor shifts in this ratio are meaningful given the scale of the population.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
   The increase from 3.25 to 3.4 filings per 100,000 people—just over five weeks—translates to a 4.6% growth in per capita bankruptcy incidence. This uptick, though seemingly small, suggests growing economic pressure among consumers and small businesses. It may reflect rising interest rates, declining savings rates, or cost-of-living increases. If this pace of growth continues, it could push the per capita filing rate above 3.5 by early 2026. Such shifts, while gradual, can significantly affect courts, legal systems, and debt management infrastructure.
9. Forecasting the Rest of 2025
   With only one week remaining in 2025, projections indicate approximately 11,190 additional filings based on the trailing 10-week average. The total forecasted filings for 2025 would then reach around 567,068 cases. This would mark one of the most active bankruptcy years post-2020, reflecting sustained economic challenges. The recent weekly surge further reinforces the momentum heading into year-end. If December patterns hold, filings will close the year strongly, reinforcing 2025’s financial distress signals.
10. Forecasting Post-2024 Trends
    Looking beyond 2025, the consistent upward trend in weekly filings suggests that 2026 may begin with elevated filing rates. If weekly filings continue at or above the 11,000 mark, the early months of 2026 could see new year-on-year highs. Structural factors like credit tightening, consumer debt peaks, and inflation could exacerbate filing rates. Moreover, changes in federal or state financial aid policies may push more individuals toward bankruptcy. These signals indicate that bankruptcy trends post-2024 are likely to remain elevated unless significant economic stabilization occurs.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of Week 51, 2025 National Filings Week 51 of 2025 recorded 11,233 total bankruptcy filings across the United States, representing the final fully completed week before the end of the year. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated the landscape with 7,116 cases, accounting for 63.3% of all filings during this week. Chapter 13 wage earner plan filings contributed 3,959 cases, representing 35.2% of the weekly total. Business reorganizations under Chapter 11 added 153 filings, while agricultural filings under Chapter 12 remained minimal at just 5 cases. This week's total of 11,233 filings exceeded the 2025 weekly average of 10,900, indicating a 3.1% increase above the year's typical performance.
2. An Interesting Fact About Week 51, 2025 Week 51 of 2025 marked the highest filing count ever recorded for the fifty-first week of any year in this dataset, surpassing the previous record of 10,076 filings set in Week 51 of 2024. The 11,233 filings represented an 11.5% increase compared to the same week in 2024, continuing a consistent pattern of year-over-year growth for this specific week. Interestingly, Week 51 filings have grown every year since 2022, when only 6,464 cases were filed during this same week period. The Central District of California (CAC) alone contributed 608 filings this week, more than the combined total of the bottom 30 districts. This demonstrates both the sustained upward trend in bankruptcy filings and the extreme concentration of cases in a handful of high-volume districts.
3. Overview of District-Level Filings The Central District of California led all districts with 608 total filings during Week 51, combining 525 Chapter 7 cases and 83 Chapter 13 cases. The Middle District of Florida followed with 563 filings (436 Chapter 7 and 118 Chapter 13), while the Northern District of Georgia recorded 390 filings (245 Chapter 7 and 141 Chapter 13). The Northern District of Illinois contributed 377 filings, with an interesting distribution of 209 Chapter 7 cases and 162 Chapter 13 cases, showing higher wage earner plan usage. The Eastern District of Michigan rounded out the top five with 334 total filings, followed by the Southern District of Florida with 324 cases, demonstrating that the top six districts alone accounted for 2,596 filings or 23.1% of the national total.
4. Geographic Disparities in District Filings The disparity in filing volumes across districts reveals stark geographic inequalities in bankruptcy activity during Week 51, 2025. The highest-volume district (Central District of California with 608 filings) recorded more than 608 times the volume of the lowest active districts, with two districts (Virgin Islands and one other) recording zero filings entirely. The top 10 districts collectively accounted for 3,265 filings, representing 29.1% of all national filings, while the bottom 50 districts combined contributed less than 15% of the total. California, Florida, and Georgia districts dominated the landscape, with these three states' federal courts processing over 30% of all bankruptcy cases filed during this week. This geographic concentration reflects both population density patterns and regional economic conditions, with urban areas experiencing disproportionately higher filing rates than rural districts.
5. Current Year Focus on 2025 Through Week 51, 2025 has recorded a total of 555,878 bankruptcy filings, tracking toward a full-year projection of approximately 566,778 cases based on the current weekly average of 10,900. The year demonstrated a clear upward trajectory across quarters, with Q1 averaging 10,158 filings per week, Q2 reaching 11,093, Q3 maintaining 11,045, and Q4 climbing to 11,336 weekly filings. This quarterly progression shows that filing rates accelerated as the year progressed, particularly in the final months. Chapter 7 filings have maintained consistent dominance throughout 2025, while Chapter 13 filings have shown resilience with steady growth patterns. The year-to-date growth rate of 10.4% compared to 2024 represents a continuation of the multi-year expansion trend, though at a slightly moderated pace compared to previous years' double-digit growth rates.
6. Comparative Analysis With Previous Years Week 51 of 2025 showed an 11.5% increase over the same week in 2024 (10,076 filings), continuing a robust growth pattern that has persisted since 2022. Comparing the same week across years reveals dramatic expansion: 2022's Week 51 recorded only 6,464 filings, followed by 8,845 in 2023 (a 36.8% jump), then 10,076 in 2024 (a 13.9% increase), culminating in 2025's 11,233 filings. On an annual basis, 2025's projected total of 566,778 filings represents a 10.4% increase over 2024's 503,740 cases, which itself was 13.2% higher than 2023's 445,173 filings. The growth rate has moderated slightly from the explosive 17.7% surge between 2022 (378,317 filings) and 2023, but remains in firmly positive territory. This consistent year-over-year expansion across multiple years indicates sustained economic pressures on American households and businesses rather than temporary spikes.
7. Analyzing Filings Per Capita Assuming a U.S. population of approximately 340 million people, Week 51's 11,233 filings translate to roughly 3.3 filings per 100,000 residents for that single week alone. Annualizing this rate based on 2025's weekly average of 10,900 filings yields approximately 567,000 total filings per year, or about 167 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 population annually. The district-level disparities become even more striking when considering population density, as the Central District of California's 608 filings in one week far exceeds what would be expected from pure population proportionality. States like Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan show filing rates significantly above the national per capita average, suggesting regional economic stress factors or differences in debt accumulation patterns. The per capita filing rate in 2025 represents a notable increase from 2022's rate of approximately 115 filings per 100,000 people, indicating growing financial distress across the population.
8. Analyzing Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita bankruptcy filing rate has increased substantially over the past three years, growing from approximately 115 cases per 100,000 residents in 2022 to an estimated 167 per 100,000 in 2025. This represents a 45% increase in the per capita filing rate over just three years, significantly outpacing population growth during the same period. Week 51 specifically shows this acceleration, with the per capita rate for that week climbing from 1.9 per 100,000 in 2022 to 3.3 per 100,000 in 2025. The changing per capita rates vary dramatically by district, with high-volume urban districts like Central California, Middle Florida, and Northern Georgia showing rates potentially 3-5 times higher than the national average. This suggests that economic pressures are not distributed evenly, with certain metropolitan areas bearing disproportionate impacts from inflation, housing costs, and wage stagnation.
9. Forecast for Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of 2025 Based on recent trends from Weeks 47-51, Week 52 of 2025 is projected to record approximately 10,523 filings, calculated from the four-week rolling average leading into year-end. This would bring 2025's final annual total to approximately 566,300 bankruptcy filings, representing a 10.4% increase over 2024's full-year total of 503,740 cases. The forecast accounts for typical year-end patterns where filings often moderate slightly during the final holiday week but remain elevated compared to historical norms. Given that Week 51 recorded 11,233 filings (5.7% above Week 50's total), there's potential for Week 52 to exceed the conservative 10,523 projection if the upward momentum continues. The projected 2025 total of 566,300 filings would represent the highest annual bankruptcy volume since the dataset begins in 2022, marking the third consecutive year of substantial growth.
10. Forecast of Increasing Filing Trends After 2024 The trajectory of bankruptcy filings suggests continued growth through 2026 and beyond, with projections indicating 2026 could reach 610,000-630,000 total filings if the current growth rate of 10-11% persists. However, growth rates have shown a pattern of moderation, declining from 17.7% (2022-2023) to 13.2% (2023-2024) to 10.4% (2024-2025), suggesting a potential stabilization around 8-12% annual growth in coming years. If this deceleration continues, 2026 might see approximately 615,000 filings (an 8.5% increase), with 2027 potentially reaching 665,000 cases at a further moderated 8% growth rate. Chapter 7 liquidations are expected to remain dominant at 60-65% of all filings, while Chapter 13 wage earner plans should maintain their 33-37% share. Long-term forecasts extending to 2030 suggest annual filings could reach 800,000-850,000 if current economic pressures persist, though much depends on factors including Federal Reserve interest rate policies, inflation trends, employment stability, and potential changes to consumer bankruptcy laws.

ChatGPT 5.2 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. In the latest fully completed week (week 51 of 2025), the nation recorded 11,233 total filings. That was higher than the prior week’s 10,630, a week-over-week increase of 603 filings. By chapter, there were 7,116 Chapter 7 filings, 153 Chapter 11 filings, 5 Chapter 12 filings, and 3,959 Chapter 13 filings. Chapter 7 plus Chapter 13 combined for 11,075 of the 11,233 total filings this week. Compared with the same week last year (week 51 of 2024 at 10,076 filings), this week is up by 1,157 filings.
2. An interesting fact this week is how concentrated activity was among a handful of districts even with 11,233 national filings. The top five districts were CAC (608), FLM (563), GAN (390), ILN (377), and MIE (334). Those five districts alone produced 2,272 filings, which is about 20.2% of the 11,233 national total. Another standout is the chapter mix: Chapter 7’s 7,116 filings exceeded Chapter 13’s 3,959 by 3,157 filings. Even though Chapter 11 is small at 153 and Chapter 12 is just 5, the national total still rose from 10,630 last week to 11,233 this week.
3. District-level totals this week show several large districts driving the national count of 11,233. CAC led with 608 total filings, followed by FLM at 563 and GAN at 390. ILN posted 377, MIE had 334, and FLS reported 324, each far above the district median of 87.5 filings. Another cluster included OHN (302), AZ (266), CAE (260), and NJ (249), which together added 1,077 filings. At the low end, the smallest nonzero district total was 2 filings, showing how uneven contributions were within the 11,233 national total.
4. Geographic disparities were stark in week 51 of 2025, even though the national total was 11,233. The top district (CAC at 608) produced 304× the smallest nonzero district total of 2 filings. The median district total was 87.5, far below FLM (563) and well below GAN (390). The top five districts combined for 2,272 filings, leaving 8,961 filings spread across all other districts. Even with the week-over-week rise from 10,630 to 11,233, the geographic footprint remained highly uneven, with 608 in the leading district versus 2 in the smallest.
5. Within 2025, the latest week’s 11,233 filings fit a higher overall pace than the comparable period in 2024. Through week 51, 2025 has accumulated 555,878 total filings, averaging 10,899.6 filings per week. Over the same weeks in 2024, the total was 498,282, averaging 9,770.2 per week. That means 2025’s year-to-date weekly pace is higher by about 1,129.3 filings per week, and this week’s 11,233 sits above the 2025 average. The current-week composition—7,116 in Chapter 7 and 3,959 in Chapter 13—also aligns with that higher pace because those two chapters total 11,075 filings.
6. Comparing the same week across years shows sustained growth rather than a one-off spike. Week 51 totals rose from 6,464 (2022) to 8,845 (2023) to 10,076 (2024) and then to 11,233 (2025). The year-over-year change for this week is +1,157 from 2024 to 2025, while the prior year’s change was +1,231 from 2023 to 2024. On an annual basis, totals increased from 378,317 (2022) to 445,173 (2023) to 503,740 (2024), matching the upward direction seen in week 51. Against that backdrop, the week-over-week move from 10,630 to 11,233 fits a broader multi-year rise rather than a random fluctuation.
7. Using an approximate national population of 335 million for 2025, this week’s 11,233 filings equal about 3.35 filings per 100,000 residents. Using the same approach for week 51 of 2024, 10,076 filings with an approximate population of 333 million equals about 3.03 per 100,000. That implies a per-person increase of roughly 0.33 per 100,000 compared with the same week last year, consistent with the raw increase of 1,157 filings. The per-person view reinforces that the jump is not trivial because 11,233 is meaningfully higher than both last week’s 10,630 and last year’s 10,076. It also highlights how the bulk of this week’s per-person rate is driven by the two dominant chapters, 7,116 (Chapter 7) and 3,959 (Chapter 13), which together make 11,075 filings.
8. The per-person filing rate has climbed over the most recent four completed weeks of 2025. Week 48 had 10,415 filings (about 3.11 per 100,000), week 49 had 9,815 (about 2.93 per 100,000), week 50 had 10,630 (about 3.17 per 100,000), and week 51 had 11,233 (about 3.35 per 100,000). From the low of 9,815 in week 49 to 11,233 in week 51, that is a net increase of 1,418 filings in two weeks. That two-week rise (1,418) is large relative to the entire Chapter 11 level this week (153) and dwarfs Chapter 12 (5). In other words, the latest increase is broad enough to move the whole national total from 10,630 last week to 11,233 this week while also lifting the per-person rate.
9. To forecast the rest of 2025 from the latest completed week, the main remaining piece is week 52 following week 51’s 11,233 filings. In prior years, week 52 often runs lower than week 51: 2022 had 6,441 vs 6,464, 2023 had 7,289 vs 8,845, and 2024 had 5,458 vs 10,076. Using the median week-52-to-week-51 ratio from those three years (about 0.824), a point forecast for week 52 of 2025 is about 9,257 filings. Adding that to the 2025 total through week 51 of 555,878 yields a projected full-year total of about 565,135 filings. This forecast also implies a year-end finish that remains above 2024’s full-year 503,740, consistent with week 51 being 11,233 versus 10,076 last year.
10. The pattern after 2024 points toward continuing increases rather than a return to earlier lows. Annual totals rose from 378,317 (2022) to 445,173 (2023) to 503,740 (2024), and the 2025 projection of about 565,135 would extend that run. Those totals imply growth of about 17.7% from 2022 to 2023, 13.2% from 2023 to 2024, and a projected 12.2% from 2024 to 2025. Weekly evidence supports the same direction because week 51 alone increased from 10,076 (2024) to 11,233 (2025), and even last week’s 10,630 was above the 2024 week-51 level. If the post-2024 trajectory persists, you would expect future weeks to more often resemble the 11,233 range than the 6,464 range seen in 2022 week 51, with Chapter 7 (7,116) and Chapter 13 (3,959) continuing to dominate the total.

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.