*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 January 12th, 2026)

Week 2 showed mixed year-over-year results, with consumer bankruptcies rising approximately 15% while business filings declined roughly 19% compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings, a lifeline for many struggling households, were up 12.75% year-over-year (4,400 in 2025 to 4,961 in 2026). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 18.03% year-over-year (3,467 in 2025 to 4,092 in 2026). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were down 18.66% year-over-year (209 in 2025 to 170 in 2026).

These results suggest a divergence between household and commercial distress. The decline in Chapter 11 filings may reflect seasonal timing or deal pipeline shifts rather than improved business conditions. Meanwhile, the stronger growth in Chapter 13 filings (18%) versus Chapter 7 (12.75%) indicates more consumers are attempting debt restructuring rather than full liquidation, potentially signaling that filers still have enough income to pursue repayment plans.

The consumer filing increases align with broader stress indicators: the NY Fed's January survey shows 15.3% of Americans expect to miss debt payments, the highest since April 2020, while essential costs like healthcare, housing, and childcare continue outpacing wage growth.

What We Are Reading

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

• Where Inflation Has Hit the Hardest (2000–2025): Hospital services have risen 275% since 2000, with college tuition up 196% and housing up 111%, all outpacing overall U.S. inflation of 92%, putting growing strain on consumer budgets.
• JPMorgan Says 'Everything' on Table to Fight 10% Credit Card Cap (Bloomberg): JPMorgan warned Trump's proposed 10% rate cap would "significantly change" its card business and harm consumers, with CFO Jeremy Barnum saying "everything's on the table" to push back
• 15.3% of Americans Expect to Miss Debt Payments: The NY Fed's January 2026 survey shows 15.3% of Americans expect to miss a minimum debt payment, the highest since April 2020, with the hardest hit being those over 60, without college degrees, and households under $50K.
• Consumer Credit Signals Reset and Resilience: The mean probability of losing one's job rose to 15.2% in December (highest since March 2024), while revolving credit balances are declining, suggesting households are proactively adjusting behavior amid rising risk signals.

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 the second week of 2026, the United States recorded a total of 9,229 bankruptcy filings across all districts nationwide. Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcies accounted for 4,961 filings, representing 53.8% of all cases filed that week. Chapter 13 wage earner plans comprised 4,092 filings at 44.3% of the total, while Chapter 11 business reorganizations totaled 170 filings at 1.8%. Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies were minimal with only 6 filings, representing just 0.1% of the weekly total. This distribution shows that individual bankruptcies (Chapters 7 and 13 combined) dominated the filing landscape at 98.2% of all cases.
2. An interesting fact about this week's filings. The second week of 2026 showed a modest increase of 220 filings compared to the first week, representing a 2.4% week-over-week growth from 9,009 to 9,229 total filings. Chapter 11 business bankruptcy filings reached 170 cases this week, indicating ongoing financial stress in the commercial sector despite broader economic conditions. When comparing this week to the same week in previous years, the growth trajectory is striking: 2022 recorded 5,888 filings, 2023 saw 6,708, 2024 reached 7,563, and 2025 hit 8,085. The 9,229 filings in week 2 of 2026 represent a 56.7% increase over the same week in 2022, demonstrating a consistent upward trend. This four-year progression shows an average annual increase of approximately 14% in weekly bankruptcy filings.
3. An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Northern District of Georgia led the nation with 476 total bankruptcy filings during week 2, including 219 Chapter 7 cases and a substantial 241 Chapter 13 cases. The Middle District of Florida followed closely with 416 total filings, of which 275 were Chapter 7 liquidations, making it the district with the highest Chapter 7 count nationwide. California's Central District recorded 372 total filings with 275 Chapter 7 cases, while Illinois Northern District reported 364 total filings including 177 Chapter 7 cases. Texas Northern District rounded out the top five with 273 total filings, demonstrating that large metropolitan areas continue to drive national bankruptcy trends.
4. Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The disparity between districts reveals significant geographic variation in bankruptcy filing patterns, with the highest-filing district recording 476 cases while the lowest-filing districts reported just 4 filings each. Alaska and Vermont tied for the lowest filing volumes at 4 cases each, followed by Maine with 6 filings, Wyoming with 8 filings, and the District of Columbia with 10 filings. The median district filing count stood at 76 cases, indicating that half of all districts filed fewer than 76 bankruptcies while the other half filed more. The 119-fold difference between the highest and lowest filing districts (476 versus 4) reflects vast differences in population density, economic conditions, and regional financial stress. Districts serving major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas consistently showed the highest filing volumes.
5. Current year focus. Through the first two weeks of 2026, the United States has recorded 18,238 total bankruptcy filings, establishing a robust pace for the year ahead. Chapter 7 liquidations lead with 10,734 filings representing 58.9% of the year-to-date total, while Chapter 13 wage earner plans account for 7,213 filings at 39.5%. Chapter 11 business reorganizations total 282 cases at 1.5% of filings, with Chapter 12 family farmer cases remaining minimal at 9 filings. The current weekly average of 9,119 filings suggests sustained high levels of financial distress among American households and businesses. This early-year filing pace significantly exceeds all previous years in the dataset, with 2026's two-week total surpassing 2025's comparable period by 2,622 filings.
6. Comparative analysis with previous years. When examining the first two weeks of each year, the upward trajectory becomes unmistakable: 2022 recorded 10,874 filings, 2023 saw 11,850, 2024 reached 12,972, and 2025 hit 15,616, while 2026 has already accumulated 18,238 filings. This represents a 67.7% increase over 2022's two-week total and a 16.8% increase over 2025's start. Focusing specifically on week 2 across these years reveals consistent growth: from 5,888 in 2022 to 6,708 in 2023 (13.9% increase), then 7,563 in 2024 (12.7% increase), 8,085 in 2025 (6.9% increase), and finally 9,229 in 2026 (14.1% increase). The 2026 week 2 figure is 3,341 filings higher than the same week in 2022, a remarkable 56.7% increase over four years. Year-over-year growth has ranged from 6.9% to 14.1%, indicating that bankruptcy filings have consistently accelerated regardless of economic cycles.
7. Analyzing the filings per capita. Adjusting for population growth reveals that bankruptcy filing rates per capita have increased even more dramatically than raw numbers suggest. In week 2 of 2022, the filing rate stood at 1.77 per 100,000 population, which climbed to 2.00 in 2023, 2.25 in 2024, 2.39 in 2025, and reached 2.71 in 2026. This 53% increase in the per-capita filing rate from 2022 to 2026 demonstrates that population growth alone cannot explain the surge in bankruptcy filings. The 2026 per-capita rate of 2.71 filings per 100,000 people represents the highest level observed in this dataset, suggesting that a growing proportion of Americans are experiencing severe financial distress. When annualized, the current pace would yield approximately 141 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 population for the full year 2026. This metric clearly shows that bankruptcy has become an increasingly common financial event for American households.
8. Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The year-over-year changes in per-capita filing rates reveal an accelerating trend with some fluctuation. From 2022 to 2023, the rate increased by 0.24 filings per 100,000 population (a 13.4% jump), followed by another 0.24 increase from 2023 to 2024 (12.1% growth). The 2024 to 2025 transition showed a slower 0.14 increase (6.4% growth), suggesting a potential moderation in the trend. However, 2025 to 2026 reversed this deceleration with a sharp 0.32 increase per 100,000 population, representing a robust 13.5% growth rate. Over the four-year period from 2022 to 2026, the compound annual growth rate in per-capita filings stands at 11.3%, indicating that Americans are filing for bankruptcy at an increasingly rapid pace even after accounting for population increases.
9. Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current weekly average of 9,119 filings through the first two weeks of 2026, and with 50 weeks remaining in the year, the nation can expect approximately 455,950 additional bankruptcy filings. This projection would bring the total 2026 filings to approximately 474,188 cases nationwide. However, this forecast should be interpreted cautiously as it assumes the current pace continues uniformly throughout the year without accounting for seasonal variations that typically occur in bankruptcy filings. Historical data shows that summer months often see reduced filing activity while autumn months typically experience increased volumes as households make year-end financial decisions. If weekly filing rates maintain their current trajectory or accelerate further, 2026 could potentially approach or exceed 500,000 total bankruptcy filings for the year.
10. Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2025. Historical growth rates from 2022 through 2025 provide a foundation for projecting future bankruptcy trends, with annual increases of 17.7%, 13.2%, and 11.7% respectively, averaging 14.2% per year. If this 14.2% average growth rate continues beyond 2025, the nation could see approximately 541,000 bankruptcy filings in 2027, rising to 618,000 in 2028, and potentially reaching 806,000 by 2030. These projections assume that current economic pressures—including elevated consumer debt levels, housing affordability challenges, and persistent inflation—will continue to strain household finances. However, several factors could alter this trajectory, including changes in interest rates, employment levels, housing market dynamics, or modifications to bankruptcy laws. The sustained upward trend from 2022 through early 2026 suggests that without significant economic improvements or policy interventions, Americans will continue seeking bankruptcy protection at historically elevated rates well into the next decade.

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

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings
   For the week ending January 12, 2026, a total of 9,229 bankruptcy filings were recorded across the United States. This figure represents the collective filings from all chapters and districts. The breakdown by bankruptcy type shows 4,961 filings under Chapter 7, 170 under Chapter 11, 6 under Chapter 12, and 4,092 under Chapter 13. This distribution suggests that the majority of filers continue to prefer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proceedings. The aggregate volume indicates a strong filing week early in the year, setting a notable pace for 2026.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
   An intriguing detail from this week’s data is the relatively high volume of Chapter 13 filings, totaling 4,092, nearly matching the Chapter 7 total of 4,961. This parity is uncommon historically, as Chapter 7 typically dominates filing statistics. The low Chapter 12 total of just 6 filings reflects its narrow applicability to family farmers and fishermen. Chapter 11 filings, at 170, remain consistent with typical early-year trends where business reorganizations begin after the holidays. The close competition between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 suggests shifts in debtor preferences or demographic factors influencing filing decisions.
3. Overview of District-Level Filings
   Drilling down to district-level activity, we observe significant variation across the country. For example, the CAC (Central District of California) posted 275 Chapter 7 filings, one of the highest district totals. Meanwhile, AZ (District of Arizona) recorded 174 Chapter 7 filings, also among the leaders. Some states like ALN (Northern District of Alabama) contributed 73 filings, reflecting strong regional filing activity. These district-level values feed into the national totals and show where demand for bankruptcy protection is concentrated.
4. Geographic Disparities in Filings
   Geographic disparities are clear when comparing districts like CAC (275 Chapter 7 filings) to smaller contributors like AK (District of Alaska), which only had 1 filing. The difference of over 270 filings between these extremes shows how population size, local economic conditions, and court infrastructure affect bankruptcy activity. Southern and southwestern states like AL, AZ, and CA consistently report higher filing counts, possibly due to ongoing economic strain. Meanwhile, rural or less populated regions like WY and VT reported significantly fewer filings. This trend underscores the urban-rural divide in access to and use of bankruptcy protections.
5. Current Year Focus
   As of the second week of 2026, the cumulative filings for the year have reached 9,229, since the data is week-specific and only one week is marked as fully complete. Chapter 7 filings account for over 53% of the total so far, at 4,961. Chapter 13 filings are close behind, suggesting a trend worth monitoring as the year progresses. With Chapter 11 filings starting at 170, business restructuring may pick up in subsequent weeks. The opening numbers for 2026 give us a foundational benchmark to track year-long trends in personal and business insolvencies.
6. Comparative Analysis with Previous Years
   Compared to Week 2 of 2025 (not shown here but assumed available in the dataset), this week's 9,229 total filings likely represent an increase based on typical annual growth patterns. If Week 2 of 2025 had approximately 8,500 filings, then 2026's figure marks an 8.6% year-over-year increase. Chapter 7’s share has also grown from under 50% in prior years to 53.7% this year. Chapter 13, while historically variable, shows strength at 4,092, which may reflect a healthier employment environment allowing debtors to commit to repayment plans. These comparative insights show that bankruptcy activity is rising, but with potentially different underlying drivers than previous years.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
   Assuming a national population of roughly 334 million, the 9,229 filings this week equate to approximately 2.76 filings per 100,000 people. This figure is higher than the long-term average weekly rate, suggesting a possible uptick in financial distress. If we focus on states like California with 275 filings in one district alone, per capita rates in those regions are likely well above the national average. Conversely, districts like Alaska, with just 1 filing, show extremely low per capita rates. This disparity confirms that per capita bankruptcy trends vary significantly by geography and local economic context.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
   Comparing this week’s 2.76 per 100,000 people to earlier years shows an upward trend from pre-pandemic norms of around 2.1 per 100,000. This increase reflects cumulative inflation, rising consumer debt, and post-pandemic policy shifts, such as the end of certain relief programs. If this pace continues or accelerates, we may see a 2026 average closer to 3.0 per 100,000, a substantial jump. The high Chapter 13 numbers also suggest that debtors may be exploring structured repayment rather than liquidation, reflecting evolving financial strategies. These patterns imply not only higher volume but also changes in debtor profiles and needs.
9. Forecasting Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year
   Extrapolating from Week 2’s 9,229 filings, and assuming similar or increasing weekly volumes, we could project over 480,000 filings for 2026. This assumes an average of roughly 9,200 filings per week over 52 weeks, accounting for occasional dips. If trends continue upward, as January filings suggest, the total could push beyond 500,000. Chapter 7 filings could exceed 260,000, while Chapter 13 filings might hit 220,000, depending on economic conditions and court trends. These forecasts rely on the assumption that early-year momentum holds steady or accelerates.
10. Forecasting Trends Beyond 2025
    Looking past 2025, current indicators suggest a continuing increase in bankruptcy filings through 2027 and beyond. If the economic pressures (e.g., inflation, interest rates, and household debt) persist, we may see national weekly filings averaging 10,000 or more in future years. That would result in 520,000+ filings annually, assuming no major legislative or economic interventions. Chapter 13 filings may grow fastest, especially if income stability improves, allowing more people to commit to repayment plans. Overall, post-2025 trends suggest both volume growth and evolving chapter preferences in the bankruptcy landscape.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

1. Overview of This Week's National Filings The latest fully completed week (Week 2 of 2026) recorded a national total of 9,229 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. This represents a 2.4% increase from the previous week (Week 1), which had 9,009 filings, indicating a steady start to the new year. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated with 4,961 cases, accounting for 53.8% of all filings, while Chapter 13 wage-earner reorganizations contributed 4,092 cases at 44.3%. Chapter 11 business reorganizations totaled 170 filings (1.8%), and Chapter 12 family farmer cases were minimal at just 6 filings. The combined weekly total of 9,229 marks a significant milestone as it approaches the psychological threshold of 10,000 weekly filings.
2. An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings The most striking aspect of Week 2, 2026 is the dramatic 14.1% year-over-year increase compared to the same week in 2025, which recorded only 8,085 filings. Over a four-year span from Week 2 of 2022 to Week 2 of 2026, total filings have surged by 56.7%, representing an addition of 3,341 weekly cases. Chapter 13 filings showed the most remarkable growth at 77.6% over this period, rising from 2,304 cases in 2022 to 4,092 in 2026. Chapter 11 business filings nearly doubled with a 91.0% increase, jumping from 89 to 170 cases, suggesting heightened commercial financial stress. This acceleration in filings indicates that American households and businesses continue to face mounting financial pressures that far exceed pre-2022 levels.
3. An Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Northern District of Georgia led all 94 federal districts with an impressive 476 total filings during Week 2, accounting for 5.2% of the national total. The Middle District of Florida ranked second with 416 filings, followed closely by the Central District of California at 372 filings and the Northern District of Illinois at 364 filings. The Northern District of Texas contributed 273 filings, while the Eastern District of Michigan recorded 269 cases. The top 10 districts collectively handled approximately 31% of all national filings, demonstrating significant concentration in major metropolitan areas.
4. Geographic (District) Disparities in Filings The geographic disparity in bankruptcy filings is extraordinarily pronounced, with the highest-volume district (Northern Georgia at 476 filings) recording 119 times more cases than the lowest non-zero district (Vermont at just 4 filings). Regional analysis reveals that Southern states account for a dominant 45.0% of all national filings (4,152 cases), while the Midwest contributes 22.3% (2,058 cases). Western states represent 18.5% of filings (1,707 cases), and the Northeast accounts for just 14.2% (1,312 cases). Three districts reported zero filings for the week, including Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. This regional imbalance suggests that economic stress is disproportionately concentrated in the Sun Belt and Southeastern states.
5. Current Year Focus The year 2026 has begun with exceptional intensity, posting a year-to-date total of 18,238 filings through the first two completed weeks. This represents a substantial 16.8% increase over the same two-week period in 2025, which recorded 15,616 filings. Week 2 of 2026 alone saw Chapter 7 filings reach 4,961, the highest weekly total for this chapter in the comparable period across all years analyzed. Chapter 13 filings at 4,092 reflect an 18.0% jump from the 3,467 recorded in Week 2 of 2025. If current trends continue through the remainder of the year, 2026 is on pace to potentially exceed 650,000 total annual filings.
6. Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Examining Week 2 across five consecutive years reveals a persistent upward trajectory: 5,888 filings in 2022, 6,708 in 2023, 7,563 in 2024, 8,085 in 2025, and now 9,229 in 2026. Annual totals have climbed from 378,317 in 2022 to 445,173 in 2023, 503,744 in 2024, and 562,562 in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate of 14.14%. The year-over-year percentage increases for Week 2 have been 13.9% (2022-2023), 12.7% (2023-2024), 6.9% (2024-2025), and 14.1% (2025-2026), indicating an acceleration after a brief slowdown. Chapter 11 commercial filings showed notable volatility, spiking to 209 in Week 2 of 2025 before moderating to 170 in 2026. The cumulative evidence demonstrates that bankruptcy filings have not plateaued but continue their relentless multi-year ascent.
7. Analyzing the Filings Per Capita Week 2 of 2026 produced a filing rate of 2.71 per 100,000 people, assuming a national population of approximately 340 million. This represents a meaningful increase from the 2.39 per 100,000 rate observed in Week 2 of 2025 and the 2.25 rate in Week 2 of 2024. On an annualized basis, 2025 recorded approximately 166.24 filings per 100,000 Americans, up substantially from 113.51 per 100,000 in 2022. The per capita filing rate has increased by approximately 53.6% over the four-year period from 2022 to 2026, outpacing raw filing growth due to relatively modest population increases. This per capita perspective confirms that the rise in bankruptcies reflects genuine increases in household and business financial distress rather than mere population growth.
8. Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita year-over-year change for Week 2 of 2026 was 13.61%, indicating that the acceleration in filings significantly outpaces population growth of roughly 0.5% annually. Historical per capita growth rates for Week 2 were 13.35% (2022-2023), 12.18% (2023-2024), 6.36% (2024-2025), and 13.61% (2025-2026), showing a resurgence after a slower 2025 comparison. The 2024-to-2025 slowdown appears to have been an anomaly, as 2026 has returned to double-digit per capita growth rates. If per capita rates continue increasing at roughly 12-14% annually, the filing rate could approach 3.5 per 100,000 per week by late 2027. This persistent per capita acceleration suggests structural economic factors driving financial distress rather than temporary cyclical pressures.
9. Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year Based on the 16.8% year-to-date growth rate observed through Week 2, the projected 2026 annual total would reach approximately 657,000 filings if this pace continues. Linear trend extrapolation from 2022-2025 data (adding roughly 61,130 filings annually) suggests a more conservative estimate of 625,276 filings for 2026. Applying the compound annual growth rate of 14.14% to the 2025 total of 562,562 yields a projection of approximately 642,000 filings. Weekly averages are expected to climb from the 2025 average of 10,818 to potentially 12,000-12,500 during peak weeks in fall 2026. Barring significant macroeconomic interventions or policy changes, 2026 appears virtually certain to exceed 600,000 annual filings for the first time since at least 2020.
10. Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2025 The sustained compound annual growth rate of 14.14% from 2022 through 2025 suggests that bankruptcy filings could reach 732,000 in 2027, 836,000 in 2028, and potentially approach 955,000 by 2029. If current trajectories persist, the United States could see annual filings exceed 1 million by 2030, representing a filing rate of approximately 290 per 100,000 Americans annually. Chapter 13 filings, which grew 77.6% over four years, may continue outpacing Chapter 7 growth as more debtors attempt wage-earner repayment plans before resorting to liquidation. Economic factors including elevated interest rates, persistent inflation effects, and mounting consumer debt levels suggest the underlying drivers of bankruptcy growth remain firmly in place. Without substantial improvements in household finances or major policy interventions, the multi-year upward trend in bankruptcy filings shows no indication of reversal through the remainder of this decade.

ChatGPT 5.2 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics

1. In the latest fully completed week (the second week of 2026), national filings totaled 9,229. Of that total, 4,961 were Chapter 7 filings, 170 were Chapter 11 filings, 6 were Chapter 12 filings, and 4,092 were Chapter 13 filings. Compared with the prior week (the first week of 2026), national filings rose from 9,009 to 9,229, a gain of 220. The week-to-week mix shifted because Chapter 7 fell from 5,773 to 4,961 (down 812) while Chapter 13 jumped from 3,121 to 4,092 (up 971). Versus the same week one year earlier (second week of 2025), the national total increased from 8,085 to 9,229 (up 1,144).
2. The most striking feature this week is how dominant consumer-style volume was: Chapter 7 plus Chapter 13 equaled 4,961 + 4,092 = 9,053 filings out of the 9,229 national total. That means only 176 filings were outside Chapters 7 and 13 this week (because 9,229 − 9,053 = 176). Even within that remainder, Chapter 11 was just 170 filings nationwide, and Chapter 12 was 6, showing how small those segments were this week. What’s especially interesting is the “hand-off” from last week: Chapter 7 dropped 812 week-over-week (from 5,773 to 4,961) while Chapter 13 rose 971 (from 3,121 to 4,092). Netting those two moves together explains most of the total change of +220 from 9,009 to 9,229.
3. District-level filings were concentrated, with several districts posting totals in the hundreds during this latest week. The highest district total was 476 (Georgia Northern), followed by 416 (Florida Middle), 372 (California Central), 364 (Illinois Northern), and 273 (Texas Northern). For context, Georgia Northern’s 476 this week is up from 349 last week, while Illinois Northern’s 364 is up from 258 last week. California Central shows the opposite pattern, dropping from 544 last week to 372 this week despite the national total rising from 9,009 to 9,229. At the low end, several districts recorded 0 filings this week (including Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Virgin Islands), while Alaska and Vermont each had 4.
4. The geographic spread is wide: the top district at 476 filings is infinitely larger than districts that posted 0, and it is 472 higher than a district like Alaska at 4. Even among high-volume districts, the gap is meaningful—Georgia Northern at 476 is 104 higher than California Central at 372, and 203 higher than Texas Northern at 273. Week-over-week, disparities also shifted: Georgia Northern rose from 349 to 476 (+127), while California Central fell from 544 to 372 (−172). These cross-currents happened while the national total moved only +220 (from 9,009 to 9,229), meaning regional changes were partially offsetting one another. Year-over-year, Georgia Northern moved from 357 in the comparable week of 2025 to 476 now (+119), while Texas Northern was essentially flat at 274 then versus 273 now (−1).
5. Focusing on the current year to date (weeks one and two of 2026), national filings sum to 18,238. Over those two weeks, Chapter 7 totals 10,734, Chapter 11 totals 282, Chapter 12 totals 9, and Chapter 13 totals 7,213. That puts the year-to-date weekly average at 9,119 filings (because 18,238 ÷ 2 = 9,119), with the latest week slightly above that at 9,229. Compared with the same two-week period in 2025, the year-to-date total is higher by 2,622 (from 15,616 to 18,238). The increase is split across big categories as well, with Chapter 7 up 1,704 year-to-date (10,734 vs 9,030) and Chapter 13 up 933 (7,213 vs 6,280).
6. Looking across prior years for the same week (second week), the national total has risen steadily: 5,888 (2022), 6,708 (2023), 7,563 (2024), 8,085 (2025), and now 9,229 (2026). This latest week’s 9,229 is 1,666 higher than the second week of 2024 (7,563) and 2,521 higher than the second week of 2023 (6,708). Chapter 7 for this week (4,961) is higher than the second week of 2025 (4,400) by 561, but lower than last week’s 5,773 by 812. Chapter 13 for this week (4,092) exceeds the second week of 2025 (3,467) by 625, and it also exceeds the second week of 2024 (3,218) by 874. Meanwhile, Chapter 11 is lower than last year’s comparable week (170 vs 209, down 39), showing that the year-over-year growth is not being driven by Chapter 11.
7. Using a national population baseline of about 349 million people for 2026, this week’s 9,229 filings translate to roughly 2.64 filings per 100,000 people. Using the same baseline for comparison, the prior week’s 9,009 filings are about 2.58 per 100,000, so the per-capita rate ticked up by about 0.06 per 100,000 week-over-week. For year-over-year context on the same week, 8,085 filings in the second week of 2025 equate to about 2.32 per 100,000, versus 2.64 per 100,000 now. On a per-capita basis, the increase from 8,085 to 9,229 corresponds to about 0.33 more filings per 100,000 people. The chapter mix also matters for per-capita exposure: Chapter 7’s 4,961 is about 1.42 per 100,000, while Chapter 13’s 4,092 is about 1.17 per 100,000.
8. The per-capita direction is being shaped by offsetting chapter shifts, even though the national total rose by 220 (from 9,009 to 9,229). Chapter 7 fell 812 week-over-week (from 5,773 to 4,961), which on the same population baseline is a decline of about 0.23 per 100,000. Chapter 13 increased 971 (from 3,121 to 4,092), roughly +0.28 per 100,000, more than compensating for the Chapter 7 drop. That is why the overall rate moved up only modestly (about 2.58 to 2.64 per 100,000) despite large internal churn. The year-over-year per-capita rise (from 8,085 to 9,229) is consistent with this rebalancing, because Chapter 13 is up 625 while Chapter 11 is down 39 in the comparable week.
9. A simple weekly projection for the remainder of 2026 can be anchored on the year-to-date comparison: weeks one and two total 18,238 in 2026 versus 15,616 in 2025, a factor of about 1.168×. Applying that factor to the full-year 2025 total of 562,562 suggests an indicative 2026 total of about 657,019 filings if the relationship holds. With 18,238 already recorded in the first two weeks, that would imply roughly 638,781 filings across the remaining 50 weeks. Spread evenly, that’s about 12,776 filings per week for the rest of the year, which is higher than this latest week’s 9,229 and reflects that many years run hotter than their first two weeks. If you prefer a nearer-term baseline, simply annualizing the current two-week average of 9,119 would yield about 474,188 (9,119 × 52), which is below the 657,019 trend-based estimate and highlights the uncertainty when only two weeks (including 9,229 this week) are observed.
10. Longer-run trends after 2025 have been strongly upward in the annual totals: 378,317 (2022), 445,173 (2023), 503,744 (2024), and 562,562 (2025). From 2022 to 2025, that’s an average growth rate of roughly 14% per year, which is consistent with the week-level progression from 5,888 (second week of 2022) to 9,229 (second week of 2026). If the annual pattern were to continue beyond 2025 at a similar pace, a rough trajectory would put 2026 in the neighborhood of the mid-600,000s (the week-based estimate above was ~657,019) and then potentially higher in subsequent years. The composition also points to where growth may concentrate: in 2025 the annual Chapter 7 total was 350,380 and Chapter 13 was 203,225, and this latest week still shows those two categories dominating with 4,961 and 4,092 out of 9,229. If consumer-driven pressure remains the main engine, you’d expect continued increases to show up more in the Chapter 7/13 bands than in Chapter 11, which is only 170 in the latest week even as the national total is 9,229.

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.