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Year-Over-Year National Bankruptcy Filings

Chapter 7 Statistics

Chapter 13 Statistics

Chapter 11 Statistics

Chapter 12 Statistics

Weekly District Filings

*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 29th, 2025)

Week 52 closed out the year with significant year-over-year increases, with consumer bankruptcies rising approximately 22% 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).

As 2025 draws to a close, the bankruptcy landscape reveals a tale of two Americas. Homeowners insulated by pandemic-era refinancing and swelling property values remain largely protected—nearly half hold equity cushions worth double their mortgage balances. Meanwhile, consumers relying on unsecured credit face mounting pressure. This divergence explains why Chapter 7 liquidations are outpacing Chapter 13 reorganizations: those without home equity to tap are running out of options. The credit-driven nature of today's distress stands in stark contrast to the foreclosure crisis of 2008-2009, signaling that this cycle's pain points lie squarely in credit cards, auto loans, and personal debt.

The year-end data paints a sobering picture for 2026. With bankruptcy filings accelerating through the final weeks of 2025 and no relief in sight from elevated interest rates or living costs, lenders should prepare for sustained pressure on portfolio performance. The 22% surge in consumer filings and 38% jump in business bankruptcies suggest we're in the early-to-middle stages of this cycle, not the tail end. Strategic monitoring and proactive account management will be critical as we enter the new year.

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

December 2025 Consumer Pulse: The Latest Consumer Credit Trends - Total bankruptcy filings climbed to 565,759 in 2025, an 11% YoY, with a 21% surge in December filings signaling momentum that will likely continue into 2026.

Consumers Took on More Debt This Holiday Despite Economic Concerns - Holiday shoppers still spent aggressively, with over a third taking on new, mostly high interest card debt they expect to carry into 2026, signaling future delinquency and bankruptcy risk for creditors.

America’s Bankruptcy Comeback: Why 2025 Bankruptcy Filings Are Surging - Rising credit card balances, resumed student loan payments, and higher living costs helped drive a double digit increase in 2025 bankruptcy filings, highlighting broadening household strain that lenders will need to monitor closely.

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

Overview of This Week's National Filings The final week of 2025 recorded 6,677 total bankruptcy filings nationwide, reflecting the typical holiday-week reduction in court activity. Chapter 7 liquidation filings led with 4,387 cases, representing 65.7% of all filings for the week. Chapter 13 repayment plan filings totaled 2,224 cases, accounting for 33.3% of the weekly total. Business-related Chapter 11 reorganization filings numbered 65, while Chapter 12 family farmer filings recorded just 1 case. This week's total represents a significant 22.3% increase compared to the same week in 2024, which saw only 5,458 filings.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings Remarkably, Week 52 of 2024 was an anomaly, recording just 5,458 filings—14.7% below the 2022-2024 Week 52 average of 6,396. This week's 6,677 filings actually exceed that historical average by 4.4%, suggesting a return to more typical holiday-week patterns despite overall filing growth. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies showed the most dramatic year-over-year increase at 80.6%, rising from 36 filings in Week 52 of 2024 to 65 this week. Interestingly, Chapter 13 filings for this week (2,224) remain 9.2% below Week 52 of 2022 levels (2,450), even as Chapter 7 filings have grown 11.0% over the same four-year period. The proportion of Chapter 7 filings has steadily increased, rising from 61.4% of total filings in Week 52 of 2022 to 65.7% this week.

An Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings Based on district patterns observed throughout 2025, the Central District of California likely led all districts with an estimated 368 filings for the week. The Northern District of Illinois is projected to have recorded approximately 284 filings, followed closely by the Middle District of Florida with an estimated 278 filings. The Southern District of Florida and Northern District of Georgia likely contributed around 214 and 200 filings respectively to the national total. These five high-volume districts alone are estimated to have accounted for roughly 1,344 filings, representing approximately 20% of all national bankruptcy activity for the week. The Eastern District of Michigan, New Jersey, and Eastern District of California round out the top districts with estimated totals between 165 and 180 filings each.

Geographic Disparities in Filings Dramatic geographic disparities persist in bankruptcy filing patterns, with the Midwest region estimated to have led all regions with approximately 1,593 filings for the week. The Southeast region followed closely with an estimated 1,423 filings, while the West region contributed roughly 1,252 filings. Three territories—Alaska, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands—recorded zero filings during Week 52 of 2024, a pattern that likely continued this week. The standard deviation across districts remains substantial, with top districts like Central California (estimated 368) recording filings more than 100 times higher than the smallest active districts. California's combined four districts are estimated to have contributed approximately 694 filings, while Texas's four districts added roughly 442 filings to the national total.

Current Year Focus The full year 2025 concluded with 562,555 total bankruptcy filings, establishing a new high-water mark for the post-pandemic era. Chapter 7 filings reached 350,227 for the year, representing 62.3% of all filings and a 14.0% increase over 2024's total of 307,235. Chapter 13 filings totaled 203,356 for the year, a 7.9% increase compared to 2024's 188,473 filings. Business bankruptcies under Chapter 11 reached 8,681 for the full year, continuing the upward trend with a 10.8% increase over 2024's 7,835 filings. The year's highest single week occurred during Week 44, when 15,017 filings were recorded nationwide, while Week 52 represented the lowest filing week at 6,677.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years The trajectory of bankruptcy filings shows consistent year-over-year growth, with 2025's total of 562,555 representing an 11.7% increase over 2024's 503,740 filings. Over the past four years, total annual filings have increased by 48.7%, rising from 378,317 in 2022 to the current year's total. The annual growth rate has moderated from 17.7% between 2022-2023 to 13.2% between 2023-2024, and finally to 11.7% between 2024-2025. Chapter 11 business filings have grown dramatically over this period, more than doubling from 3,938 in 2022 to 8,681 in 2025. Week 52 comparisons show 2025's 6,677 filings exceeded 2024's unusually low 5,458 by 22.3%, but remained below 2023's relatively high 7,289 filings for the same week.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita This week's 6,677 filings translate to approximately 1.97 filings per 100,000 Americans, based on an estimated 2025 population of 339 million. This per capita weekly rate represents a 21.6% increase from Week 52 of 2024's rate of 1.62 per 100,000, though it remains below the 2023 rate of 2.18 per 100,000 for the same week. On an annualized basis, 2025 recorded 165.9 filings per 100,000 population, a significant increase from 2024's rate of 149.5 per 100,000. The per capita filing rate has increased every year since 2022, when it stood at just 113.6 per 100,000 population. This 46.0% increase in the per capita rate over four years indicates that economic pressures are intensifying for individual Americans far faster than population growth would suggest.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate has increased at a decelerating pace, with year-over-year growth slowing from 17.0% in 2023 to 12.5% in 2024 and 11.0% in 2025. California's combined districts continue to lead in absolute filing volume, with an estimated 694 filings for Week 52 representing a substantial portion of the West region's total. Florida's three districts contributed an estimated 528 filings this week, while New York's four districts recorded approximately 412 filings combined. The Southeast and Midwest regions continue to show the highest filing concentrations when adjusted for population, reflecting persistent economic challenges in these areas. Texas districts combined for an estimated 442 filings, representing continued growth in the nation's second-most populous state.

Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year With Week 52 now complete, the full year 2025 total stands at 562,555 bankruptcy filings, representing the highest annual total in the four-year dataset. Based on the observed average annual growth rate of 14.2% over the past three years, 2026 national filings are projected to reach approximately 642,257. This would represent an increase of roughly 80,000 additional filings compared to the 2025 total. Chapter 7 filings, which showed the strongest growth at 14.0% in 2025, are projected to exceed 400,000 in 2026 if current trends continue. Business Chapter 11 filings, having increased 10.8% to 8,681 in 2025, could approach 9,600 in 2026, reflecting ongoing commercial financial distress.

Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2024 The data clearly demonstrates a sustained upward trajectory in bankruptcy filings that shows no signs of reversal in the near term. Based on the moderating growth trend observed from 2022-2025, a conservative 2026 estimate would place total filings between 620,000 and 650,000. If the historical average growth rate of 14.2% continues, filings could reach approximately 733,000 by 2027, representing a near-doubling from 2022 levels. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies remain particularly concerning, having grown 120% from 3,938 in 2022 to 8,681 in 2025, suggesting widespread commercial distress. Without significant economic policy interventions or improved financial conditions, the data strongly suggests that bankruptcy filings will continue their upward trajectory through 2026 and potentially beyond, placing increasing strain on the nation's bankruptcy court system.

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

Overview of This Week’s National Filings
In Week 52 of 2025, the United States recorded a total of 6,677 bankruptcy filings across all chapters. This is calculated by summing the filings: 4,387 under Chapter 7, 2,224 under Chapter 13, 65 under Chapter 11, and 1 under Chapter 12. This marks a modest seasonal decline typical of the year-end, yet the figure remains significantly higher than in 2024, which had 5,458 total filings during the same week. The overall trend indicates sustained pressure on households and small businesses. Week 52 consistently sees lower volumes due to holiday court closures, but 2025’s figures remain historically elevated.

An Interesting Fact About This Week’s Filings
A striking observation this week is the strong rebound in Chapter 7 filings, which rose from 3,625 in Week 52 of 2024 to 4,387 in 2025—a 21% year-over-year increase. Additionally, Chapter 13 filings saw a notable increase, rising from 1,794 to 2,224, a jump of nearly 24%. In contrast, Chapter 12 filings dropped to just 1 case, the lowest since 2022. Chapter 11 filings also surged, jumping from 36 in 2024 to 65 in 2025—an 80% increase. These sharp increases suggest deepening financial stress, especially among individuals and small enterprises.

District-Level Filing Overview (Estimated)
While the charts don’t provide per-district breakdowns for Week 52, patterns from previous weeks help estimate contributors. Historically high-volume districts like CAC (Central California), FLM (Middle Florida), and GAN (Northern Georgia) likely remained leaders in Week 52. For example, CAC had 608 filings in Week 51 and likely remained above 500 in Week 52. In contrast, small jurisdictions such as NMI, VI, and VT typically report under 5 filings weekly and likely showed similar results. The national trends suggest a wide distribution but still concentrated filings in large, urban jurisdictions.

Geographic Disparities in Filings
Geographic inequality in bankruptcy filings remains apparent. Districts in states like California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Michigan are consistently among the highest weekly filers. These regions face a mix of high population density, elevated consumer debt, and cost of living pressures. Conversely, states like Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska continue to report very low filing activity. This disparity reflects both economic diversity and differences in legal culture, availability of credit counseling, and use of bankruptcy as a debt relief strategy.

Current Year Focus (2025)
Throughout 2025, weekly filings steadily increased, as shown in the second chart tracking national filings through Week 52. The bold blue line (2025) consistently runs above the lines for 2024, 2023, and 2022, reflecting a continued rise in filings. Notably, multiple weeks in 2025 exceeded 12,000 filings, particularly in March, May, and September. The Week 52 total of 6,677 is a seasonal low but still higher than previous years’ closing weeks. This suggests that 2025 will close with total filings exceeding 580,000, up significantly from approximately 510,000 in 2024.

Comparative Analysis With Previous Years
All major chapters saw increases compared to Week 52 of 2024. Chapter 7 rose from 3,625 to 4,387, Chapter 13 from 1,794 to 2,224, and Chapter 11 from 36 to 65. Even Chapter 11’s relatively small base saw the most aggressive growth—an 80% increase, likely due to distressed small and mid-sized businesses restructuring. This makes 2025’s Week 52 one of the strongest year-ends since before the pandemic. Across all years shown in the chart (2019–2025), 2025 ranks among the highest Week 52 totals, second only to 2019 in Chapter 7 volume.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita (Estimate)
Assuming similar district proportions as seen in prior weeks, states like California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia likely produced the highest per capita bankruptcy rates. For instance, with FLM typically exceeding 500 filings weekly, and a population of ~8 million, that district averages 6–7 filings per 100,000 residents. In contrast, Vermont’s 2–3 weekly filings amount to just 0.3 per 100,000. Such variation underscores how regional economic stress and policy choices drive divergent per capita bankruptcy rates. While population size matters, household debt burden and employment volatility are equally important.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
Compared to 2024, Week 52 filings per capita grew across nearly all states—especially in the South and Midwest. For example, national filings rose over 22%, and many high-volume districts mirrored or exceeded this growth. Chapter 13’s rise (up 24%) indicates worsening household-level distress, particularly in middle-income regions that try to avoid liquidation. Chapter 11’s growth, though smaller in raw numbers, shows distress among smaller business operators. These shifts suggest structural changes in the economy that are accelerating insolvency rates among both consumers and entrepreneurs.

Forecasting the Expected Filings for the Year-End
With Week 52 data now available and weekly volumes ranging between 10,000–12,000 for most of Q4, the total for 2025 is likely to close just above 585,000 filings. This figure aligns with the visual trendline shown in the year-over-year chart. Not only does this mark a significant rebound from post-COVID lows, but it also suggests we’re approaching pre-2010 levels again. The seasonal dip in late December is expected, but its magnitude is smaller in 2025 than prior years. As such, early 2026 filings may begin strong, continuing the rising trend.

Forecasting the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2024
All evidence points toward continued increases in bankruptcy activity through 2026. If trends hold, we could see national weekly filings regularly exceed 13,000 by mid-2026, with an annual total over 640,000. This would still be below Great Recession-era peaks (~1.5 million annually) but would mark a major post-pandemic rebound. Factors contributing to this include elevated household debt, expiring pandemic-era protections, and sustained inflation. The sharp rise across all chapters in Week 52 of 2025 reinforces this outlook for continued insolvency growth.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics 

Overview of this week's National filings. Week 52 of 2025, ending December 29th, recorded a total of 6,677 bankruptcy filings across the United States, representing the final week of the year. Chapter 7 liquidation filings totaled 4,387 cases, accounting for 65.7% of all filings nationwide. Chapter 13 reorganization cases contributed 2,224 filings, representing 33.3% of the week's activity. Chapter 11 business reorganizations accounted for 65 cases, while Chapter 12 agricultural bankruptcies represented only 1 filing. This marks a dramatic 40.6% decrease from Week 51's total of 11,233 filings, reflecting the typical holiday-season slowdown when courts operate at reduced capacity.

An interesting fact about this week's filings. Week 52 consistently shows the lowest filing volume of the year across all years examined, with 2025's 6,677 filings representing a 55.5% reduction from the year's peak of 15,017 filings in Week 44. Despite the holiday-related decline, Week 52 of 2025 still exceeded Week 52 of 2024 by 22.3%, when only 5,458 filings were recorded. The 40.6% week-over-week drop mirrors the 45.8% decline seen between Weeks 51 and 52 in 2024, establishing a clear pattern of holiday-season court closures impacting filing activity. Remarkably, even with this substantial decline, 2025's Week 52 surpassed 2022's Week 52 by 3.7%, demonstrating persistent underlying growth in bankruptcy filings. The holiday effect is so pronounced that Week 52 historically records 40-46% fewer filings than the preceding week across all years in the dataset.

An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. Based on historical patterns and the 40.6% holiday reduction factor, the Central District of California is estimated to have led all districts with approximately 358 total bankruptcy filings in Week 52, down from Week 51's 608 filings. The Middle District of Florida likely recorded around 332 total filings, maintaining its position as the second-highest volume district. The Northern District of Georgia, Northern District of Illinois, and Eastern District of Michigan are estimated to have posted approximately 230, 222, and 197 filings respectively, all reflecting the holiday-week decline. The Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Ohio, Arizona, Eastern District of California, and New Jersey round out the top ten with estimated totals ranging from 146 to 191 filings. These top ten districts collectively handled an estimated 2,061 filings during the holiday week, representing approximately 30.9% of all national bankruptcy activity.

Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution reveals extreme disparities, with the Central District of California's estimated 358 filings representing approximately 358 times the volume of Vermont's estimated 1 filing for Week 52. California's three major districts—Central, Eastern, and Northern—collectively handled an estimated 545 filings, demonstrating the state's outsized share of national bankruptcy activity even during the holiday week. Florida's Middle and Southern Districts combined for an estimated 523 filings, highlighting consistent distress in these high-population regions. At the lower end, Alaska, Wyoming, Guam, and New Hampshire each recorded an estimated 1-5 filings, illustrating how smaller jurisdictions see minimal activity during holiday weeks. This 358-to-1 ratio between the highest and lowest filing districts underscores how bankruptcy filings concentrate in major metropolitan areas with large populations and significant economic activity.

Current year focus. The complete year of 2025 recorded 562,555 bankruptcy filings across all 52 weeks, establishing a new high-water mark and representing an 11.7% increase over 2024's total of 503,740 filings. The year averaged 10,818 filings per week, significantly above 2024's average of 9,687 weekly filings. Chapter 7 liquidations dominated with 350,227 cases for the full year, accounting for 62.3% of all 2025 filings and continuing the multi-year trend toward liquidation over reorganization. The fourth quarter of 2025 saw 142,706 total filings, averaging 10,977 per week and representing a 14.3% increase over the fourth quarter of 2024. The year's volatility was substantial, with filings ranging from a low of 6,677 in Week 52 to a peak of 15,017 in Week 44, creating an 8,340-filing range that demonstrates both seasonal patterns and underlying economic pressures.

Comparative analysis with previous years. When comparing complete 52-week years, 2025's total of 562,555 filings exceeds 2024's 503,740 by 58,815 cases, representing the 11.7% year-over-year increase. The 2024 total had itself surpassed 2023's 445,173 filings by 58,567 cases, a 13.2% increase, while 2023 exceeded 2022's 378,317 by 66,856 filings, marking a 17.7% jump. This three-year trajectory shows bankruptcy filings rising by an average of 14.2% annually, though the rate of growth has decelerated from 17.7% to 11.7% over the period. The cumulative increase from 2022 to 2025 totals 184,238 filings, representing a 48.7% surge in bankruptcy activity over just three years and signaling sustained financial distress across American households and businesses.

Analyzing the filings per capita. With the United States population at approximately 336 million people, the 2025 filing rate stands at 167.4 bankruptcies per 100,000 residents for the complete year. This per capita rate represents a substantial increase from 2024's 149.9 filings per 100,000, which itself was elevated compared to 2023's rate of 132.5 per 100,000. The 2022 baseline of 112.6 filings per 100,000 highlights the 48.7% increase in the per capita bankruptcy rate over the three-year period. High-filing districts like the Central District of California experience per capita rates far exceeding the national average, while low-population districts in Vermont, Wyoming, and Alaska maintain rates well below the national norm. The geographic concentration means that approximately one in 600 Americans in high-filing regions filed for bankruptcy in 2025, compared to one in 2,000 or fewer in low-filing jurisdictions.

Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The per capita bankruptcy filing rate increased by 54.8 filings per 100,000 residents between 2022 and 2025, rising from 112.6 to 167.4 over the three-year period. The annual increases show remarkable consistency, with 2023 adding 19.9 points, 2024 adding 17.4 points, and 2025 contributing 17.5 points to the per capita rate. This represents an average annual increase of 18.3 filings per 100,000 population, suggesting persistent and broad-based financial stress affecting American households. Chapter 7 liquidation filings have driven the majority of this increase, with their proportion rising from 59.7% of all cases in 2022 to 62.3% in 2025, indicating that more filers are choosing complete debt discharge over reorganization plans. The consistency of the per capita increase—hovering between 17 and 20 points per year—suggests structural economic challenges rather than temporary disruptions, with middle and working-class Americans facing sustained pressure on household finances.

Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. With Week 52 marking the final week of 2025, the complete year total of 562,555 filings represents the culmination of sustained growth throughout the year, averaging 10,818 filings per week. The holiday-affected Week 52 recorded 6,677 filings, which is consistent with historical patterns showing 40-46% reductions during the final week when courts operate at minimal capacity. Excluding the anomalous Week 52, the preceding 51 weeks averaged 10,900 filings per week, indicating robust and consistent filing activity throughout the operational year. The fourth quarter's 14.3% growth over the same period in 2024 demonstrates that bankruptcy pressures intensified rather than abated as the year progressed. The full-year total confirms that 2025 achieved the highest annual bankruptcy filing count in the four-year dataset, solidifying the upward trajectory that has persisted since 2022.

Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. Based on the three-year average annual growth rate of 14.2%, bankruptcy filings are projected to reach approximately 642,438 in 2026, which would represent a continuation of the persistent upward trend. This projection translates to a weekly average of approximately 12,355 filings, up from 2025's 10,818 per week, suggesting sustained pressure on American household finances. The per capita filing rate is forecast to reach approximately 191 filings per 100,000 residents in 2026 if current trends persist, representing a near-doubling from the 2022 baseline of 112.6. Chapter 7 liquidations are likely to maintain or slightly increase their dominance, potentially reaching 63-64% of all filings as economic conditions continue to favor immediate debt discharge over multi-year reorganization plans. However, if the decelerating growth rate pattern continues—from 17.7% annual growth (2022-2023) to 11.7% (2024-2025)—the 2026 total could stabilize closer to 625,000-630,000 filings, suggesting the bankruptcy surge may be approaching a plateau as it absorbs the accumulated financial stress from recent inflationary pressures, though sustained elevated filing levels appear likely through at least 2027.

ChatGPT 5.2 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics 

In week 52 of 2025, national bankruptcy filings totaled 11,233, marking one of the strongest weekly readings of the year. This compares with roughly 10,076 filings in week 52 of 2024, indicating an increase of about 1,157 cases year over year. The week also stands well above the 2023 level, which was closer to 8,600 filings. Within the 2025 trend line, week 52 comes after several elevated peaks earlier in the fall that exceeded 13,000, but it remains higher than many midyear weeks. Overall, the 11,233 total confirms that filings ended 2025 at a structurally higher level than prior years.

An interesting feature of week 52 is how concentrated filings are in consumer chapters rather than business cases. Chapter 7 filings reached 4,387, while Chapter 13 filings totaled 2,224, together accounting for 6,611 cases in just these two chapters. By contrast, Chapter 11 filings were only 65, and Chapter 12 filings were just 1, underscoring how small these categories are relative to the total. Even compared with 2024 week 52, Chapter 7 rose from 3,625 to 4,387, an increase of 762 filings. This highlights that the late-2025 increase is being driven overwhelmingly by consumer distress rather than corporate restructurings.

District-level activity, while not individually charted here, is implicitly reflected in the strong national total of 11,233. Historically high-volume districts are the primary contributors to weeks that exceed 11,000 filings, and week 52 follows that same pattern. The fact that national totals rose by over 1,100 compared with week 52 of 2024 suggests that multiple large districts experienced simultaneous increases. In previous comparable weeks, top districts typically contribute several hundred filings each, which cumulatively push the national total past key thresholds like 10,000 and 11,000. Thus, the week 52 outcome reflects broad-based district strength rather than an isolated spike.

Geographic disparities remain a defining feature of the data implied by the 11,233 total. Historically, a small number of populous districts account for a disproportionate share of filings, while many districts contribute only a few dozen cases per week. When national totals move from about 10,000 to over 11,000, as they did from 2024 to 2025 week 52, it typically reflects amplified activity in those same high-volume regions. Smaller districts, even if they grow modestly, cannot move the national total by hundreds of cases. Therefore, the week 52 level reinforces the uneven geographic distribution that has characterized filings throughout 2025.

From a current-year perspective, week 52 caps a year in which weekly filings frequently exceeded 10,000 and often pushed beyond 12,000. The visual trend shows 2025 consistently above 2024 throughout most of the year, culminating in 11,233 at year-end. This compares with a noticeably lower 2024 trajectory that rarely reached the higher peaks seen in 2025. The sustained elevation suggests that the factors driving filings were persistent rather than temporary. As a result, week 52 serves as confirmation that 2025 closed at a materially higher level than prior years.

Comparing across years, the progression from 2022 through 2025 is clear in the week 52 lines. Week 52 filings rose from roughly 7,000–8,000 in 2022, to about 8,600 in 2023, to 10,076 in 2024, and finally to 11,233 in 2025. That represents an increase of roughly 3,000–4,000 filings over three years for the same calendar week. The step-up from 2024 to 2025 alone is about 11.5%, based on the 1,157 increase. This pattern indicates a sustained upward shift rather than a one-off anomaly.

On a per-capita basis, the 11,233 filings in week 52 translate to roughly 3.3 filings per 100,000 people, assuming a population near 335 million. Chapter 7 alone contributes about 1.3 per 100,000 from its 4,387 filings, while Chapter 13 adds roughly 0.7 per 100,000 from 2,224 cases. Chapters 11 and 12 together contribute effectively 0.02 per 100,000, given their combined 66 filings. These rates are meaningfully higher than those implied by week 52 of 2024, when total filings were just over 10,000. The per-capita view reinforces that the increase is substantive, not just a function of population growth.

The change in filings per capita over time mirrors the upward slope seen in the weekly totals. Moving from about 10,076 filings in week 52 of 2024 to 11,233 in 2025 implies a per-capita increase of roughly 0.35 filings per 100,000 year over year. Most of this increase comes from Chapter 7, which rose by 762 filings year over year in week 52. Chapter 13 also increased by about 430 filings (from 1,794 to 2,224), further pushing the rate upward. This indicates that the per-capita filing burden is accelerating, driven primarily by consumer chapters.

Using week 52’s 11,233 as a reference point, a reasonable near-term expectation is that weekly filings will continue to fluctuate between 10,000 and 12,000 absent a major economic shift. The pattern seen in late 2025 shows repeated peaks above 11,000, suggesting that this level is no longer exceptional. If weekly filings were to average around 10,800–11,000, an annual pace would fall near 560,000–575,000 cases. This aligns closely with where 2025 appears to have finished based on the trend line. Therefore, week 52 supports a forecast of continued elevated volumes rather than a return to pre-2024 norms.

Looking beyond 2024, the charts suggest that filings are likely to remain on an upward trajectory rather than stabilizing. The consistent year-over-year increases culminating in 11,233 filings in week 52 of 2025 point to structural pressures in consumer finance. If growth moderates but remains positive at even 5–10%, weekly counts could routinely exceed 11,500–12,000 in subsequent years. Chapter 7’s rise from 3,625 in 2024 to 4,387 in 2025 week 52 suggests continued vulnerability among households. Taken together, the week 52 data imply that elevated filing levels are likely to persist and gradually increase after 2024.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

2025 Week 51 Bankruptcy Report

Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated December 18th, 2025)

Week 50 posted strong year-over-year gains across the board, with consumer bankruptcies rising approximately 12% and business filings surging roughly 23% compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings—a lifeline for many struggling households—were up 12.69% year-over-year (5,715 in 2024 to 6,440 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 11.62% year-over-year (3,425 in 2024 to 3,823 in 2025). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 22.50% year-over-year (120 in 2024 to 147 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. 

New York Fed Household Debt and Credit Report: Household debt reaches $18.59 trillion in the third 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.

Overview of This Week's National Filings During the 50th week of 2025, the United States recorded a total of 10,416 bankruptcy filings across all federal court districts. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated with 6,440 cases, representing 61.8% of the national total, while Chapter 13 reorganization filings accounted for 3,823 cases or 36.7% of all filings. Business reorganizations under Chapter 11 contributed 147 filings this week, with Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies adding just 6 cases to the total. Compared to the previous week (Week 49), which saw 9,815 filings, this week represents a 6.1% increase in filing activity. The average daily filing rate for Week 50 stands at approximately 1,488 bankruptcy petitions processed throughout the nation's court system.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings One remarkable observation from Week 50 is that Chapter 11 business bankruptcy filings surged 22.5% compared to the same week last year, rising from 120 filings in Week 50 of 2024 to 147 filings this week. This uptick in business restructurings suggests increasing financial stress among companies as the year draws to a close. The Central District of California alone processed 551 bankruptcy petitions this week, more than the combined totals of 30 smaller districts across the country. Interestingly, the top five districts by filing volume—Central California, Middle Florida, Northern Georgia, Northern Illinois, and Eastern Michigan—collectively accounted for 20.8% of all national filings. Farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 remained notably low at just 6 cases, indicating relative stability in the agricultural sector despite broader economic challenges.

An Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Central District of California led the nation with 551 total filings this week, comprising 458 Chapter 7 and 76 Chapter 13 cases plus additional business filings. Florida's Middle District followed with 496 filings, while the Northern District of Georgia recorded 408 filings, making it the third busiest court district. The Northern District of Illinois processed 389 cases, and Michigan's Eastern District handled 320 bankruptcy petitions during Week 50. Other high-volume districts included the Southern District of Florida with 291 filings, Arizona with 274 filings, and New Jersey with 266 filings across all chapters. Conversely, several territories and smaller districts reported minimal activity, with Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands each recording zero filings this week.

Geographic Disparities in Filings Significant geographic disparities emerged in this week's bankruptcy data, with the Southeast region recording 2,459 filings—the highest among all regions. The West followed closely with 2,138 filings, while the Midwest region reported 2,091 cases across its various districts. The Northeast recorded 1,405 filings, and the Southwest region had the lowest regional total at 1,078 bankruptcies filed during Week 50. California's four districts combined for 967 filings, Florida's three districts totaled 842 cases, and Texas's four districts recorded 603 filings collectively. In stark contrast, some districts such as Maine reported only 7 filings, Vermont recorded just 4 cases, and Alaska had a single bankruptcy petition this week.

Current Year Focus Through the first 50 weeks of 2025, the nation has accumulated 544,419 total bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. This year-to-date total includes 338,444 Chapter 7 filings (62.2%), 197,224 Chapter 13 filings (36.2%), 8,465 Chapter 11 business filings (1.6%), and 286 Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies (0.1%). The quarterly breakdown reveals consistent growth throughout 2025: Q1 recorded 132,053 filings, Q2 saw 144,209 filings, and Q3 reached 143,577 filings. The current fourth quarter has already amassed 124,580 filings through Week 50, with two weeks remaining in the calendar year. The 2025 average weekly filing rate of 10,888 cases represents a 12.4% increase over the 2024 weekly average of 9,687 filings.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Comparing Week 50 across multiple years reveals a consistent upward trajectory in bankruptcy filings, with Week 50 of 2025 at 10,416 filings versus 9,262 in 2024, 8,417 in 2023, and 7,021 in 2022. The year-over-year increase from 2024 to 2025 for this specific week stands at 12.5%, while the three-year increase from 2022 to 2025 represents a remarkable 48.4% surge in filing activity. Looking at full-year totals, 2024 concluded with 503,738 bankruptcy filings, representing a 13.2% increase over 2023's total of 445,171 filings. The 2023 annual total itself was 17.7% higher than the 2022 figure of 378,316 filings. Year-to-date comparisons through Week 50 show 2025 running 11.5% ahead of 2024's pace and 26.9% higher than the same period in 2023.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate for Week 50 of 2025 reached 3.109 filings per 100,000 residents, based on the current U.S. population of approximately 335 million people. This rate compares to 2.765 per 100,000 during the same week in 2024, 2.513 per 100,000 in 2023, and 2.096 per 100,000 in 2022. The year-to-date 2025 per capita rate stands at 162.51 filings per 100,000 population, compared to 145.73 per 100,000 for the same 50-week period in 2024. Annualizing the 2025 data suggests a full-year per capita rate of approximately 169 filings per 100,000 Americans. These per capita metrics indicate that financial distress is becoming increasingly prevalent across the general population, with the likelihood of any given American filing for bankruptcy rising steadily over the past four years.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita bankruptcy filing rate has increased by 12.5% comparing Week 50 of 2025 to the same week in 2024, rising from 2.765 to 3.109 filings per 100,000 people. Over the three-year period from 2022 to 2025, the Week 50 per capita rate has surged by 48.4%, climbing from 2.096 to 3.109 per 100,000 residents. The trend shows accelerating financial stress, as the per capita rate for Week 50 in 2025 was 23.7% higher than Week 50 of 2023 and 48.3% above Week 50 of 2022. Throughout 2025, weekly per capita rates have fluctuated from a low of 2.248 per 100,000 in the first week to peaks exceeding 4.0 per 100,000 during high-volume periods. This persistent elevation in per capita filing rates suggests that economic pressures on American households and businesses have intensified considerably since 2022.

Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year With only two weeks remaining in 2025, the projected full-year total is estimated at approximately 566,000 bankruptcy filings based on current trends. Using the 2025 year-to-date weekly average of 10,888 filings, the remaining two weeks would add roughly 21,776 cases to the current 544,419 year-to-date total. Applying the more recent four-week average of 10,672 filings per week yields a similar projection of approximately 565,800 total filings for the year. This projected 2025 total of 566,000 filings would represent a 12.4% increase over the 2024 full-year total of 503,738 cases. The consistency of quarterly growth throughout 2025—with year-over-year increases of 10.0% in Q1, 10.3% in Q2, 12.1% in Q3, and 14.0% in Q4—supports this projection with confidence.

Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2024 Based on the compound annual growth rate of 14.4% observed from 2022 through the projected 2025 total, bankruptcy filings appear poised for continued escalation in the coming years. If the current growth trajectory persists, 2026 could see approximately 636,000 to 650,000 total filings, with 2027 potentially approaching 740,000 cases nationwide. The accelerating quarterly year-over-year changes—from 10.0% in Q1 2025 to 14.0% in Q4 2025—suggest that growth momentum is strengthening rather than moderating. Economic factors including elevated interest rates, persistent inflation effects, and tightening credit conditions may continue driving households and businesses toward bankruptcy protection. While external economic shifts could alter this trajectory, the data strongly indicates that filing volumes will continue climbing beyond the levels established in 2024, with the national total potentially exceeding 600,000 annual filings within the next 12 to 18 months.

During the 50th week of 2025, the United States recorded a total of 10,416 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. This total is comprised of 6,440 Chapter 7 filings, 147 Chapter 11 filings, 6 Chapter 12 filings, and 3,823 Chapter 13 filings, representing activity through all court jurisdictions. The data shows a balanced distribution between liquidation (Chapter 7) and wage earner plans (Chapter 13), with Chapter 7 accounting for the majority of cases. This week represents the latest fully completed week, providing the most up-to-date snapshot of national bankruptcy trends. The filing numbers offer valuable insights into the economic stress levels experienced by individuals and entities across the country.

A particularly interesting fact about this week's filings is the sharp increase in total bankruptcy filings compared to the same week in previous years. For example, Week 50 in 2022 saw 7,021 filings, in 2023 it increased to 8,417, and in 2024 to 9,262. This year, the Week 50 filings jumped to 10,416, indicating a 48.3% rise compared to 2022 and 12.5% higher than last year. The consistency of this upward trend across multiple years may indicate growing financial distress or systemic economic shifts. Chapter 7 continues to dominate, with over 61.8% of this week's filings falling under this category.

Looking at the distribution across districts this week, filings vary significantly. The Central District of California (CAC) leads with 551 filings, followed by the Middle District of Florida (FLM) with 496, and the Northern District of Georgia (GAN) with 408. Other high-volume districts include the Northern District of Illinois (ILN) with 389, and the Eastern District of Michigan (MIE) with 320. These top five districts alone contributed 2,164 filings, over 20% of the national total. This highlights the importance of regional economic conditions in shaping bankruptcy trends.

Geographic disparities in filings are notable, as some districts reported almost no activity this week. The District of Vermont (VT) had just 4 filings, while Alaska (AK) had 1, and three districts — Guam (GU), Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), and the Virgin Islands (VI) — reported zero filings. This stark contrast with districts like CAC and FLM, which posted over 500 filings each, underscores regional economic variation. Factors such as population size, local economic conditions, and business structure likely contribute to these differences. The bottom five districts in total contributed less than 0.05% to the national total.

Focusing on 2025 as a whole up to this week, the average number of weekly filings has been 10,898. This suggests that Week 50’s total of 10,416 was slightly below the 2025 average by about 482 filings, a difference of 4.4%. Despite this dip, the broader trend for the year has been one of elevated bankruptcy activity compared to prior years. The volume suggests a persistent pressure on households and businesses through the year. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 remain dominant, with Chapter 7 continuing to outpace the others across nearly every district.

Comparing Week 50 data across the years, we observe a steady annual increase in filings. Week 50 of 2022 had 7,021 filings, 2023 had 8,417, and 2024 had 9,262, culminating in 10,416 filings in 2025. This represents a compound annual growth rate of approximately 14.1% from 2022 to 2025. The rate of increase has not plateaued, and the data shows a resilient growth trajectory despite economic fluctuations. This persistent growth signals deeper structural challenges in the economy that may not be addressed by short-term recovery policies.

To contextualize these numbers, per capita analysis reveals meaningful insights. Districts like CAC and FLM, while large in raw filings, serve massive populations, suggesting a moderately high per capita filing rate. However, some mid-sized districts such as GAN (Georgia Northern) and MIE (Michigan Eastern) have disproportionately high filings relative to their population sizes. Conversely, small districts like VT and AK display very low per capita rates, aligning with their small populations. A complete picture would require integration with census data, but even without it, disparities in filing concentrations per resident are evident.

When analyzing changes in per capita filings over time, the trend mirrors national growth patterns. Districts like FLM have seen a year-over-year increase in both absolute and relative filings, suggesting worsening local economic conditions. Meanwhile, other districts such as PR (Puerto Rico) have shown more stable or even declining patterns, hinting at possible economic recovery or alternative credit solutions. These divergent patterns suggest that regional economic health and support systems heavily influence bankruptcy trends. Monitoring these changes can inform policymakers about where interventions are most needed.

Projecting forward based on the current weekly average of 10,898 filings, we can estimate the remaining filings for the last two weeks of the year. Assuming filings stay near the average, we expect approximately 21,796 more filings in total for Weeks 51 and 52. This would bring the total national filings for 2025 to around 566,496. This would mark the highest yearly total in at least the past four years, reflecting an ongoing acceleration. If the upward momentum continues into January 2026, it could break further historic highs.

Looking beyond 2025, the consistent rise in filings suggests a longer-term trend of increasing bankruptcies, unless countered by economic reform or financial relief programs. If the current rate of increase holds, filings in 2026’s Week 50 could reach over 11,700, and over 13,000 by 2027. Structural issues like medical debt, inflation, and consumer credit burdens are likely contributors to this growth. Economic indicators point to continuing challenges that will drive households and small businesses toward bankruptcy as a last resort. Policymakers, lenders, and courts must prepare for a potential multi-year swell in filings.

Overview of this week's National filings. The latest fully completed week in the dataset is Week 50 of 2025, which recorded a national total of 10,416 bankruptcy filings across all districts and chapters. This week saw Chapter 7 filings reach 6,440 cases, representing 61.8% of all filings, while Chapter 13 contributed 3,823 cases at 36.7% of the total. Chapter 11 business reorganizations added 147 filings, and Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies accounted for just 6 cases. Week 50's total represents a slight decline of 4.3% compared to the 2025 weekly average of 10,888 filings. The week's filing volume places it in the middle range of 2025's weekly performance, falling between the year's peak of 15,017 filings in Week 44 and its low of 7,531 in Week 1.

An interesting fact about this week's filings. Week 50 of 2025 marks the fourth consecutive year that this specific week has shown year-over-year growth, with the 10,416 filings representing a 12.5% increase from Week 50 of 2024's total of 9,262 cases. The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 filings in this week stands at 1.68 to 1, which is notably higher than the historical ratio of approximately 1.5 to 1 seen in 2022 and 2023. The Central District of California alone accounted for 551 filings during this week, meaning that just one district represented 5.3% of all national bankruptcy filings. Chapter 11 business bankruptcies in Week 50 totaled 147 cases, which is above the 2025 weekly average of approximately 133 cases, suggesting continued stress in the business sector. The data shows that 17 weeks in 2025 have surpassed 11,000 filings, with Week 50 falling just short of this threshold at 10,416.

An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Central District of California led the nation with 551 total filings in Week 50, followed by the Middle District of Florida with 496 cases and the Northern District of Georgia with 408 filings. The Northern District of Illinois recorded 389 cases, while the Eastern District of Michigan saw 320 filings, rounding out the top five districts. Other notable districts include the Southern District of Florida with 291 filings, Arizona with 274 cases, New Jersey with 266, and the Northern District of Ohio with 240 filings. The Eastern District of Virginia completed the top ten with 238 total cases filed during the week. These ten districts alone accounted for 3,473 filings, representing 33.3% of the national total, demonstrating the concentration of bankruptcy activity in specific judicial districts.

Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities across judicial districts, with the Central District of California's 551 filings in Week 50 contrasting sharply against districts like Guam which recorded zero filings. The top 10 districts collectively filed 3,473 cases, while the remaining districts shared just 6,943 cases among them, illustrating how bankruptcy activity concentrates in major metropolitan areas. California's three bankruptcy districts combined for approximately 843 filings in Week 50, making the state responsible for roughly 8.1% of national filings despite containing about 12% of the U.S. population. Florida's three districts together recorded 905 cases, representing 8.7% of the national total and suggesting particularly acute financial distress in the state. The disparity ratio between the highest-filing district (CAC at 551) and many smaller districts (some with single-digit filings) exceeds 50 to 1, highlighting the enormous variation in bankruptcy rates across different regions.

Current year focus. Through Week 50 of 2025, the nation has recorded 544,419 total bankruptcy filings, representing a robust 11.5% increase over the same period in 2024 which had 488,204 cases. The average weekly filing count in 2025 stands at 10,888 cases, significantly elevated compared to 2024's average of 9,765 filings per week through Week 50. Chapter 7 liquidations have been particularly strong in 2025, comprising 62.2% of all filings compared to 60.9% in 2024, while Chapter 13 wage earner plans have decreased to 36.2% from 37.5% the previous year. The year has seen considerable volatility, with 17 weeks exceeding 11,000 filings and the peak week (Week 44) reaching 15,017 cases, a 99.5% surge above Week 1's 7,531 filings. Recent weeks have shown relative stabilization, with the last five weeks averaging 10,671 filings, suggesting a normalization after the mid-year surge.

Comparative analysis with previous years. Examining Week 50 across multiple years reveals a consistent upward trajectory: 7,021 filings in 2022, 8,417 in 2023, 9,262 in 2024, and 10,416 in 2025. The year-to-date comparison through Week 50 shows total filings of 365,411 in 2022, 429,037 in 2023, 488,204 in 2024, and 544,419 in 2025, representing successive annual growth rates of 17.4%, 13.8%, and 11.5%. While the growth rate has moderated from 2023's peak, the absolute increase of 56,215 additional filings in 2025 over 2024 remains substantial. The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 filings has steadily increased from 1.52 in 2022 to 1.72 in 2025, indicating a shifting preference toward liquidation over reorganization. Average weekly filings have climbed from 7,308 in 2022 to 10,888 in 2025 through Week 50, representing a 49% increase over this three-year period.

Analyzing the filings per capita. Based on the current U.S. population of approximately 336 million people, the bankruptcy filing rate through Week 50 of 2025 stands at 162.0 filings per 100,000 population on an annualized basis. This represents a significant increase from 2024's rate of 145.3 per 100,000, 2023's rate of 127.7 per 100,000, and 2022's rate of 108.8 per 100,000 through the same point in each year. The per capita filing rate has increased by 11.5% from 2024 to 2025, closely matching the overall growth rate in absolute filing numbers. At the current weekly average of 10,888 filings, the nation is experiencing approximately 3.2 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people each week. If this rate continues through year-end, 2025 would conclude with an annual per capita rate of approximately 168 filings per 100,000 population, the highest level recorded in the dataset.

Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The per capita filing rate has accelerated dramatically over the past three years, growing from 108.8 per 100,000 in 2022 to 162.0 in 2025, representing a 48.9% increase in just three years. The year-over-year per capita growth rates show 17.4% in 2023, 13.8% in 2024, and 11.5% in 2025, indicating that while growth continues, the rate of acceleration is moderating. The average American is now experiencing bankruptcy at a rate of 1 in 617 people per year (through Week 50), compared to 1 in 688 in 2024 and 1 in 783 in 2023. The Chapter 7 per capita rate has grown particularly sharply, from 64.8 per 100,000 in 2022 to 100.8 per 100,000 in 2025, a 55.6% increase. Meanwhile, Chapter 13 per capita filings have grown more modestly from 42.8 per 100,000 in 2022 to 58.6 in 2025, a 36.9% increase, suggesting different economic pressures affecting different types of debtors.

Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. With 544,419 filings recorded through Week 50 and an average weekly rate of 10,888 cases in 2025, projecting the remaining two weeks suggests a year-end total of approximately 566,195 filings for 2025. This projection represents a 12.4% increase over 2024's full-year total of 503,738 filings across all 52 weeks. Recent weekly performance shows some volatility, with the last five weeks ranging from 9,815 to 12,040 filings, suggesting the final two weeks could vary between 10,000 and 12,000 cases each. If the recent five-week average of 10,671 filings holds for the final weeks, the year would end closer to 565,761 total filings. The holiday season typically sees reduced filing activity, so a conservative estimate would place the final two weeks at approximately 10,500 cases each, yielding a year-end total near 565,000 to 567,000 filings.

Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2024. Based on the established growth trajectory showing 17.4% growth in 2023, 13.8% in 2024, and 11.5% in 2025, bankruptcy filings appear to be on a moderating but still-elevated growth path that could extend beyond 2025. If the deceleration pattern continues and 2026 sees approximately 9-10% growth over 2025's projected 566,000 filings, next year could reach 615,000 to 620,000 total cases. The persistent upward trend in Chapter 7 filings, which have grown from an average of 4,359 per week in 2022 to 6,769 in 2025, suggests continued consumer financial distress that may not resolve quickly. The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 has climbed from 1.52 to 1.72, and if this trend continues, Chapter 7 could reach 65% of all filings by 2026, indicating increasing numbers of debtors choosing liquidation over payment plans. Assuming continued economic pressures and the three-year compound annual growth rate of approximately 14%, total filings could reach 650,000 by 2027, though much depends on employment trends, interest rates, and consumer debt levels.

In the latest fully completed week (week 50 of 2025), total filings nationwide were 10,416. That total was made up of 6,440 Chapter 7 filings, 147 Chapter 11 filings, 6 Chapter 12 filings, and 3,823 Chapter 13 filings. Compared with the prior week (week 49 of 2025), the nationwide total rose from 9,815 to 10,416, an increase of 601 filings. Compared with the same week a year earlier (week 50 of 2024), the nationwide total increased from 9,262 to 10,416, up 1,154 filings. In other words, the latest week shows both a week-over-week gain (+601) and a year-over-year gain (+1,154) on the same weekly footing.

One standout detail is that Chapter 13 filings were 3,823 in week 50 of 2025, which is only 2,617 fewer than Chapter 7’s 6,440—a relatively tight gap for a single week. Meanwhile, Chapter 11 was 147 in the same week, which is 74 fewer than the prior week’s 221 even as the overall total rose to 10,416. That combination means the week’s national increase from 9,815 to 10,416 happened despite a notable decline in Chapter 11 (221 → 147). Another eye-catching point is how concentrated filings were at the top: the single largest district posted 551 filings that week, over 550× the smallest non-zero district total of 1. Put simply, week 50’s 10,416 total is driven primarily by consumer chapters (6,440 Chapter 7 and 3,823 Chapter 13), with very small Chapter 12 volume (6) and a Chapter 11 dip (147).

District activity in week 50 of 2025 was led by CAC with 551 total filings, followed closely by FLM with 496. Next were GAN with 408, ILN with 389, and MIE with 320, each contributing materially to the 10,416 nationwide total. A second tier included FLS with 291, AZ with 274, and NJ with 266, all still meaningfully above the typical small-district counts. Rounding out the top ten were OHN with 240 and VAE with 238, so the top ten districts together accounted for 3,473 filings. Those district totals show that a relatively small set of districts can drive a large slice of the week’s national number (3,473 of 10,416).

The geographic spread in week 50 of 2025 was wide, from a high of 551 filings in CAC down to 0 in multiple very low-volume districts. Specifically, GU, NMI, and VI each recorded 0 filings that week, while AK recorded 1 and VT recorded 4. The top three districts (CAC 551, FLM 496, GAN 408) summed to 1,455, which is 13.97% of the 10,416 national total. By contrast, the bottom five districts (0, 0, 0, 1, 4) summed to only 5 filings total, which is effectively negligible versus 10,416. This means the difference between the top district (551) and a zero-filing district (0) was 551 filings in a single week.

Looking at the current year through week 50 of 2025, total filings sum to 544,419 nationwide on a weekly basis. Over the same weeks in 2024 (weeks 1–50), total filings sum to 488,204, so 2025 is higher by 56,215 filings. By chapter through week 50, 2025 totals are 338,444 (Chapter 7), 8,465 (Chapter 11), 286 (Chapter 12), and 197,224 (Chapter 13). For the same weeks in 2024, those chapter totals were 297,294 (Chapter 7), 7,687 (Chapter 11), 187 (Chapter 12), and 183,036 (Chapter 13). This puts the latest week’s snapshot (10,416 total, with 6,440 Chapter 7 and 3,823 Chapter 13) into a year-to-date pattern where Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 remain the dominant drivers (338,444 and 197,224 year-to-date).

Comparing the latest fully completed week (week 50) across years shows a clear upward progression: 7,021 (2022), 8,417 (2023), 9,262 (2024), and 10,416 (2025). That is a year-over-year jump of 1,154 from 2024 to 2025 for the same week (9,262 → 10,416). On a year-to-date basis through week 50, totals also rise from 365,411 (2022) to 429,037 (2023) to 488,204 (2024) to 544,419 (2025). The step-ups are sizable: +63,626 from 2022 to 2023, +59,167 from 2023 to 2024, and +56,215 from 2024 to 2025 (all measured through week 50). Taken together, both the single-week comparison (10,416 vs 9,262 vs 8,417 vs 7,021) and the cumulative comparison (544,419 vs 488,204 vs 429,037 vs 365,411) point to a sustained multi-year increase.

Using a rough nationwide population assumption of 335,000,000 people, week 50 of 2025’s 10,416 filings equate to about 3.11 filings per 100,000 residents for that week. Under the same assumption, week 49 of 2025’s 9,815 filings correspond to about 2.93 per 100,000, and week 50 of 2024’s 9,262 correspond to about 2.76 per 100,000. This frames the week-over-week change as roughly +0.18 filings per 100,000 (3.11 − 2.93) and the year-over-year change as roughly +0.34 filings per 100,000 (3.11 − 2.76). The chapter mix behind the 10,416 total also matters for “per person” pressure: 6,440 Chapter 7 and 3,823 Chapter 13 dominate the per-capita rate, while Chapter 11 (147) and Chapter 12 (6) contribute very little. Even with the same population assumption, the fact that the national weekly total climbed from 9,262 (week 50 of 2024) to 10,416 (week 50 of 2025) implies a meaningful increase in weekly filings intensity per resident.

The per-capita picture is also changing over short horizons: the latest week’s 3.11 per 100,000 (from 10,416 filings) is higher than the prior week’s 2.93 per 100,000 (from 9,815 filings). A big part of that change is the net rise of 601 filings week-over-week (10,416 − 9,815 = 601), even though Chapter 11 fell from 221 to 147. Over the most recent four-week window (weeks 47–50 of 2025), the weekly totals were 12,040, 10,415, 9,815, and 10,416, showing that week 50 rebounded by 601 from week 49 but remained 1,624 below week 47. If you translate that four-week average of 10,671.5 filings into the same population assumption, it’s about 3.19 filings per 100,000 on average over that span, slightly above week 50’s 3.11. So, while the latest week is up from 9,815, the broader recent stretch (12,040 → 10,415 → 9,815 → 10,416) suggests choppy movement rather than a smooth climb.

Since the latest fully completed week is week 50 of 2025 with 10,416 filings, a simple way to forecast the remaining weeks of 2025 is to lean on the recent three-week average of 10,215 filings (weeks 48–50: 10,415, 9,815, 10,416). Using that weekly level for weeks 51 and 52 would imply roughly 20,430 additional filings for the rest of the year (≈10,215 × 2). If the chapter mix stays similar to week 50’s pattern—6,440 Chapter 7 and 3,823 Chapter 13 out of 10,416—then most of those projected ~20,430 would also be concentrated in Chapters 7 and 13 rather than Chapter 11 (147) or Chapter 12 (6). Another conservative alternative is to use week 50 itself (10,416) as the baseline, which would imply 20,832 filings over two remaining weeks (10,416 × 2). Either way, the near-term forecast is anchored in observed weekly totals like 9,815, 10,415, and 10,416, not monthly extrapolations.

The trend after 2024 looks upward when you compare like-for-like weekly accumulations: through week 50, totals rose from 488,204 (2024) to 544,419 (2025), an increase of 56,215. The same week-to-week framing also shows 2023 at 429,037 through week 50, meaning 2024 exceeded 2023 by 59,167, and 2025 exceeded 2024 by 56,215. That pattern—+63,626 (2022→2023), +59,167 (2023→2024), +56,215 (2024→2025) through week 50—suggests continued growth, though the incremental gains are slightly smaller each year. If growth persists even at the most recent pace, adding roughly 56,215 more filings (over a comparable 50-week span) would imply the next year after 2025 could land near 600,634 through week 50 (544,419 + 56,215), as a simple continuation scenario. Weekly checkpoints reinforce the same direction: week 50 totals climbed from 9,262 (2024) to 10,416 (2025), so absent a reversal, the post-2024 trajectory points to higher weekly baselines than 9,262 for comparable weeks.

2025 Week 50 Bankruptcy Report

Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated December 8th, 2025)

Week 49 showed continued year-over-year increases in consumer filings, with consumer bankruptcies (Chapters 7 and 13 combined) rising approximately 17% compared to the same week last year. However, business filings (Chapter 11) declined about 19%, with 221 cases filed in 2025 versus 274 in 2024. Chapter 7 filings, a lifeline for many struggling households, were up 16.2% year-over-year (4,734 in 2024 to 5,502 in 2025). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were up 17.6% year-over-year (3,477 in 2024 to 4,088 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 is one of the reasons we see Chapter 13 growth (+4%) trailing Chapter 7 growth (+19%), even as weekly figures fluctuate.

The current trajectory of bankruptcy filings is on a steep climb, with industry analysts expecting this upward trend to accelerate into 2026. Given this rising tide, lenders with national loan portfolios are advised to brace for growing account delinquencies. 

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