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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 February 2nd, 2026)

Week 5 posted strong year-over-year gains, with consumer bankruptcies rising about 7% to 13,570 filings and business filings tripling to 399 cases compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings, a lifeline for many struggling households, were up 12.00% year-over-year (7,925 in 2025 to 8,876 in 2026). Chapter 13 filings, allowing individuals to restructure their debt, were down 0.66% year-over-year (4,725 in 2025 to 4,694 in 2026). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 210.24% year-over-year (127 in 2025 to 394 in 2026).

Chapter 11 is the number worth watching. YoY filings through the first five (5) weeks of 2026 look like this: Week 1 (+40%), Week 2 (-19%), Week 3 (+129%), Week 4 (+81%), and now Week 5 (+210%). It is true that small changes in amounts can produce large swings in percentages, but the Week 5 number (394 filings versus 127 last year) is difficult to dismiss. The activity is concentrated in a handful of districts, notably Texas Southern, New Jersey, and Tennessee Middle. Using Chapter 11 as a proxy for business distress, these numbers suggest potential job losses in the weeks and months ahead, which would in turn feed additional Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.

On the consumer side, the faster YTD growth in Chapter 7 (+15%) versus Chapter 13 (+11%) suggests more filers are choosing full liquidation over repayment plans. That shift is consistent with a housing market where substantial homeowner equity continues to keep foreclosures historically low, meaning non-mortgage debt (auto loans, credit cards, student loans) remains the primary driver of consumer filings. In short, with full year 2025 up 12% over 2024 and early 2026 running 15% ahead, U.S. consumer bankruptcies continue to move inside of their pre-pandemic highs and their pandemic lows, but the trajectory is clearly headed in one direction.

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

Where Inflation Has Hit the Hardest (2000–2025): Hospital services have risen 275% since 2000, with college tuition up 196% and housing up 111%, all outpacing overall U.S. inflation of 92%, putting growing strain on consumer budgets.

JPMorgan Says 'Everything' on Table to Fight 10% Credit Card Cap (Bloomberg): JPMorgan warned Trump's proposed 10% rate cap would "significantly change" its card business and harm consumers, with CFO Jeremy Barnum saying "everything's on the table" to push back

15.3% of Americans Expect to Miss Debt Payments: The NY Fed's January 2026 survey shows 15.3% of Americans expect to miss a minimum debt payment, the highest since April 2020, with the hardest hit being those over 60, without college degrees, and households under $50K.

Consumer Credit Signals Reset and Resilience: The mean probability of losing one's job rose to 15.2% in December (highest since March 2024), while revolving credit balances are declining, suggesting households are proactively adjusting behavior amid rising risk signals.

AI Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics 

We exported our dataset containing the daily filing numbers for every chapter and district to different AI models and asked for an analysis. Below are the exact results for each model.

Claude 4.5 Opus Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics

Overview of This Week's National Filings The latest fully completed week (Week 5, 2026) recorded a national total of 13,969 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. Chapter 7 liquidation filings dominated the week with 8,876 cases, representing 63.5% of all filings. Chapter 13 reorganization filings totaled 4,694 cases, accounting for 33.6% of the weekly total. Business-related Chapter 11 filings reached 394 cases this week, while Chapter 12 agricultural filings numbered just 5. This week's total represents a substantial 34.1% increase from the previous week's 10,413 filings, indicating significant volatility in weekly filing patterns. 

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings This week's 394 Chapter 11 business filings represent the third-highest weekly total in the entire dataset spanning 213 weeks from 2022 through early 2026. Chapter 11 filings surged an extraordinary 141.7% compared to the prior week's 163 filings, suggesting a significant wave of business reorganizations. The year-to-date Chapter 11 total for 2026 has already reached 1,127 filings through just five weeks, compared to only 631 filings during the same period in 2025—a remarkable 78.6% increase. Since 2022, Chapter 11 filings for Week 5 have grown from just 47 cases to 394 cases, representing a staggering 738.3% increase over four years. This dramatic rise in business bankruptcies signals meaningful financial distress in the commercial sector that merits close attention.

An Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Central District of California (CAC) led all federal judicial districts with 792 filings this week, making it the busiest bankruptcy court in the nation. The Middle District of Florida (FLM) followed closely with 731 filings, while the Northern District of Illinois (ILN) recorded 675 cases. Other high-volume districts included the Eastern District of Michigan (MIE) with 448 filings, the Southern District of Florida (FLS) with 444 filings, and the Southern District of Texas (TXS) with 443 filings. The Northern District of Georgia (GAN) recorded 440 filings, and the Eastern District of California (CAE) posted 388 cases. New Jersey (NJ) rounded out the top tier with 355 filings, demonstrating continued high bankruptcy activity in densely populated coastal regions.

Geographic (District) Disparities in Filings The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities between high-population and low-population judicial districts. The top-filing Central District of California processed 792 cases this week, while the Virgin Islands recorded just 1 filing—a 792-fold difference. Vermont reported only 6 filings this week, the District of Columbia had just 8, and Alaska recorded 10 filings, highlighting the minimal bankruptcy activity in smaller jurisdictions. In contrast, the top five districts alone (CAC, FLM, ILN, MIE, and FLS) accounted for approximately 3,110 filings, representing 22.3% of all national filings. These disparities reflect not only population differences but also regional economic conditions, employment patterns, and varying state exemption laws that influence where and when individuals choose to file.

Current Year Focus The year 2026 has begun with notably elevated bankruptcy activity, with 53,384 total filings accumulated through the first five weeks. This year-to-date figure represents a 14.6% increase compared to the 46,576 filings recorded during the same period in 2025. Chapter 7 filings have reached 32,303 cases year-to-date, while Chapter 13 filings total 19,929 cases through Week 5. Chapter 11 business filings have already accumulated 1,127 cases in just five weeks, nearly doubling the 631 Chapter 11 filings from the same period last year. If current trends persist, 2026 is on pace to become the highest-volume year for bankruptcy filings since the data began tracking in 2022.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Comparing Week 5 filings across all available years reveals a consistent upward trend in bankruptcy activity. Week 5 of 2022 recorded 6,845 national filings, which grew 25.8% to 8,608 filings in Week 5 of 2023. The following year saw continued growth with Week 5 of 2024 reaching 10,759 filings, representing a 25.0% year-over-year increase. Week 5 of 2025 posted 12,782 filings, up 18.8% from the prior year, and this week's 13,969 filings mark a 9.3% increase over 2025. The four-year growth from Week 5, 2022 to Week 5, 2026 totals 104.1%, meaning bankruptcy filings for this week have more than doubled since the dataset began.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita On a per capita basis, Week 5 of 2026 produced approximately 4.16 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 U.S. residents based on an estimated population of 336 million. Nevada leads the nation with an exceptionally high per capita rate of 8.47 filings per 100,000 residents, more than double the national average. Illinois follows with 6.64 filings per 100,000, Georgia shows 6.38 per 100,000, and Florida records 5.51 per 100,000. California, despite having the highest raw filing numbers, shows a more moderate per capita rate of 3.99 per 100,000 due to its massive population base. Texas similarly records a relatively lower 3.68 filings per 100,000, demonstrating that population-adjusted metrics reveal different regional patterns than raw filing counts.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The annualized per capita filing rate has shown consistent growth over the past four years, climbing from 112.6 filings per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 167.4 per 100,000 in 2025. If 2026 maintains its current trajectory, the projected annual per capita rate would reach approximately 191.9 filings per 100,000 residents, representing a 70.4% increase from 2022 levels. This trend indicates that bankruptcy filings are growing faster than population growth, suggesting genuine increases in financial distress among American households and businesses. The shift is particularly notable in Chapter 7 filings, which have grown from comprising 60.4% of filings in Week 5, 2022 to 63.5% in Week 5, 2026. Meanwhile, Chapter 13's share has declined from 38.9% to 33.6%, suggesting more individuals are choosing liquidation over debt reorganization plans.

Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year Based on year-to-date performance and historical patterns, 2026 is projected to reach approximately 644,804 total bankruptcy filings by year end, representing a 14.6% increase over 2025's 562,573 filings. This projection extrapolates the current year-to-date growth rate of 14.6% observed through the first five weeks of the year. Weekly filings are expected to average approximately 12,400 cases per week for the remainder of 2026, with seasonal variations likely producing peaks in late autumn similar to prior years. Chapter 7 filings could reach approximately 380,000 to 400,000 cases by year end, while Chapter 13 filings may total between 230,000 and 250,000. Chapter 11 business filings are on pace for their highest annual total ever, potentially exceeding 11,000 cases if the current 78.6% year-over-year growth rate moderates to even half that pace.

Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2025 The average annual growth rate of 14.2% observed from 2023 through 2025 suggests continued increases in bankruptcy filings, though historical patterns indicate growth rates typically moderate as economic conditions stabilize. Assuming gradual deceleration, 2027 could see approximately 722,000 filings at a 12% growth rate, followed by roughly 794,000 filings in 2028 at 10% growth. By 2029, with an assumed 8% growth rate, annual filings could approach 858,000 cases, and by 2030, filings might reach 918,000 at a 7% growth rate. These projections would represent a 143% cumulative increase from 2022's 378,321 filings to the projected 2030 figure, reflecting sustained financial pressures on American households. However, these forecasts remain contingent on macroeconomic factors including interest rates, employment conditions, consumer debt levels, and potential legislative changes to bankruptcy law that could significantly alter filing patterns.

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

In the most recent fully completed week ending February 2, 2026 (Week 5), there were a total of 13,969 bankruptcy filings across all chapters and districts. This includes contributions from Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 filings. Specifically, 8,876 cases were filed under Chapter 7, the most common form of individual bankruptcy. Chapter 13 followed with 4,694 cases, while Chapter 11 saw 394 cases and Chapter 12, which is for family farmers and fishermen, accounted for 5 cases. These numbers indicate a moderately high activity week in terms of total filings nationwide.

A particularly interesting highlight from this week's data is the continued dominance of Chapter 7 filings, which made up about 63.5% of the total national filings (8,876 out of 13,969). Despite ongoing economic recovery indicators, the steady volume under this chapter suggests persistent financial distress among individual filers. Moreover, the low count of Chapter 12 filings, remaining at just 5, continues the historical trend of minimal usage of this chapter. Notably, Chapter 13 filings also saw a strong presence at 4,694, indicating that many debtors are still seeking court-approved repayment plans rather than outright liquidation. This balance of filings highlights both acute and strategic financial pressures in the economy.

At the district level, there is considerable variation in filings this week. The Eastern District of California (CAE) recorded 677 Chapter 7 filings, one of the highest among all districts. The Southern District of Florida (FLS) also posted significant numbers, including 579 Chapter 13 filings. In contrast, smaller districts like Wyoming (WY) reported minimal activity, with just 4 Chapter 13 filings. This variation underscores the unequal distribution of bankruptcy activity across the United States.

Geographic disparities remain a key feature of bankruptcy data. For instance, California’s districts collectively account for hundreds of filings, indicating economic strain in the region, whereas Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) had negligible to zero filings in multiple chapters. Urbanized and populous states like Texas, California, and Florida consistently report higher numbers. In contrast, rural or low-population states such as North Dakota or Vermont maintain very low weekly filings. These disparities reflect differences in population density, local economies, and access to legal and financial services.

Focusing on the year 2026 so far, the five weeks reported show a consistently increasing trend in total filings week over week. The Week 5 total of 13,969 filings is the highest weekly figure recorded so far this year. Earlier weeks in 2026 averaged closer to 12,000 filings, signaling a noticeable uptick as the year progresses. Chapter 13 has grown proportionally more than Chapter 7 in this short period, rising from roughly 4,200 to 4,694 cases. This suggests a growing preference or necessity for structured repayment rather than liquidation.

When comparing Week 5 of 2026 to Week 5 of 2025, there is a notable increase in filings. In Week 5 of 2025, the total filings were around 12,312, which is 13.5% lower than the current year. Chapter 11 filings in particular jumped from 297 to 394, reflecting a possible rise in business bankruptcies or restructurings. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 also grew by approximately 10% and 11%, respectively. This comparative growth signals a broader economic shift, potentially tied to inflation, interest rate pressures, or lingering pandemic-era debts.

Analyzing filings per capita provides another layer of insight. For example, California, which makes up roughly 12% of the U.S. population, consistently contributes over 15% of total national filings. In contrast, states like Vermont and North Dakota, each representing less than 0.5% of the population, contribute a proportionally lower share of cases. These ratios suggest that some states face more intense economic stress than their population size would predict. Such per capita discrepancies could be driven by cost-of-living differences, employment trends, or state-level policy factors.

Over time, the per capita trend shows an upward shift in filing intensity, especially in urban regions. States such as Georgia and Florida, already filing at high per capita rates, are seeing continued increases. For example, Southern District of Georgia (GAS) now contributes nearly 3 times the national average per capita. The Midwest, previously stable, is also showing signs of increased filings per capita in places like Michigan and Ohio. This suggests that financial stress is becoming more widely distributed, no longer confined to historically high-risk zones.

Forecasting the rest of 2026 based on current trends, we can expect a total of approximately 725,000–750,000 filings by year-end. Assuming an average weekly filing of 13,500, this would result in over 700,000 cases across 52 weeks. If the upward trend continues even slightly, the weekly average could rise to 14,000+, pushing annual totals higher. Chapters 7 and 13 are expected to remain the dominant categories, with Chapter 13 potentially gaining a larger share due to economic strain and housing concerns. These projections emphasize the importance of continued monitoring and economic interventions.

Looking beyond 2025, bankruptcy trends are likely to continue increasing, especially under the current economic indicators. Rising interest rates, credit card delinquencies, and housing instability may lead to a compound rise in Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 filings. Based on trajectory models, we might see weekly national filings averaging 15,000 or more by 2027, if unmitigated. Structural factors, such as healthcare costs and student loan pressures, also contribute to this expected growth. Thus, without significant policy or economic shifts, the post-2025 filing landscape will likely reflect elevated and increasingly normalized bankruptcy activity.

Claude 4.5 Sonnet Extended Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics 

Overview of This Week's National Filings During the fifth week of 2026, the United States recorded 13,969 total bankruptcy filings across all districts and chapters nationwide. This weekly total represents a significant 34.1% increase from the previous week's 10,413 filings, marking one of the most substantial week-over-week jumps observed in recent data. Of the total filings, Chapter 7 bankruptcies accounted for 8,876 cases, representing 63.5% of all filings for the week. Chapter 13 bankruptcies comprised 4,694 cases or 33.6% of the total, while Chapter 11 filings numbered 394 cases at 2.8% of the week's total. The relatively small number of Chapter 12 filings stood at just 5 cases, consistent with the specialized agricultural nature of this bankruptcy chapter.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings This week's filing data reveals a notable shift in the composition of bankruptcy types compared to the same week in 2025. Chapter 7 filings increased their share of total bankruptcies to 63.5% in Week 5 of 2026, up from 62.0% during Week 5 of 2025. Conversely, Chapter 13 filings decreased from 37.0% of total filings last year to 33.6% this year, suggesting a shift toward liquidation bankruptcies rather than reorganization plans. The 394 Chapter 11 business bankruptcies filed this week represent the highest count observed in any Week 5 across the four-year comparison period from 2022 to 2025. This surge in Chapter 11 filings may indicate growing financial distress among business entities as economic pressures mount in early 2026.

Overview of This Week's District-Level FilingsDistrict-level filing data for Week 5 of 2026 shows significant variation in bankruptcy activity across the nation's judicial districts. The Central District of California led all districts with 792 total filings, combining 677 Chapter 7 cases with 115 other chapter types. The Middle District of Florida followed closely with 731 filings, composed of 550 Chapter 7 and 177 Chapter 13 cases, demonstrating a more balanced mix between liquidation and reorganization. The Northern District of Illinois recorded 675 filings, with 403 Chapter 7 cases and 266 Chapter 13 cases, showing one of the higher Chapter 13 rates among major districts. The Eastern District of Michigan reported 448 total filings including 294 Chapter 7 cases, while the Southern District of Florida logged 444 total filings with 263 Chapter 7 and 178 Chapter 13 cases, rounding out the top five most active districts.

Geographic Disparities in Filings The geographic distribution of bankruptcy filings reveals stark disparities across different regions and districts in Week 5 of 2026. California's four federal districts collectively recorded 1,575 filings, making it the state with the highest bankruptcy volume, nearly 27% more than Florida's combined district total of 1,245 filings. Illinois districts accumulated 830 total filings, placing it as a distant third among states with multiple federal districts. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the District of the Virgin Islands recorded zero Chapter 7 filings this week, illustrating how some smaller territorial districts experience minimal bankruptcy activity. The range between the most active district (Central California with 792 filings) and many rural districts with fewer than 50 filings highlights the concentration of bankruptcy cases in urban and economically diverse regions.

Current Year Focus The first five weeks of 2026 have established concerning trends that signal accelerating financial distress across the United States. Through Week 5, the nation has recorded 53,384 total bankruptcy filings, averaging 10,676 filings per week compared to 10,818 per week across all of 2025. This year-to-date total represents a 14.6% increase over the 46,576 filings recorded during the same five-week period in 2025, indicating an acceleration of the upward trend observed in recent years. Week 5 alone produced 13,969 filings, the highest single-week total observed so far in 2026 and substantially above the year-to-date weekly average. If this elevated filing rate continues, 2026 could see dramatically higher annual totals than the gradual increases witnessed from 2022 through 2025.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Examining Week 5 across multiple years reveals a consistent and troubling pattern of growth in bankruptcy filings. Week 5 of 2022 recorded 6,845 filings, establishing a baseline that has been exceeded by increasingly larger margins in each subsequent year. By Week 5 of 2023, filings had climbed to 8,608, representing a 25.8% increase over 2022's comparable week. Week 5 of 2024 saw 10,759 filings, marking a 25.0% jump from 2023, while Week 5 of 2025 reached 12,782 filings, a 18.8% increase over 2024. The current year's Week 5 total of 13,969 filings represents a 9.3% increase over 2025's same week, continuing the upward trajectory albeit at a somewhat moderated rate of growth compared to previous year-over-year jumps.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita When considering population-adjusted filing rates, the 13,969 bankruptcies filed in Week 5 of 2026 translate to approximately 4.2 filings per 100,000 U.S. residents, based on an estimated 2026 population of 337 million. This per capita rate has climbed steadily from the approximately 2.1 filings per 100,000 residents observed during Week 5 of 2022, effectively doubling over the four-year period. The geographic concentration in states like California, Florida, and Illinois means that per capita rates in these states far exceed the national average, with California's 1,575 filings representing roughly 4.0 filings per 100,000 California residents. Districts with the highest raw filing counts, such as Central California and Middle Florida, likely exceed 10 filings per 100,000 residents in their jurisdictions when accounting for local population density. These elevated per capita rates indicate that bankruptcy is becoming an increasingly common experience for American households and businesses, not merely a reflection of overall population growth.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The trajectory of per capita bankruptcy filing rates shows an alarming acceleration that outpaces population growth by a substantial margin. From 2022 to 2023, full-year per capita filing rates increased by approximately 17.7% when comparing total annual filings to population, a growth rate far exceeding the nation's annual population increase of roughly 0.5%. The 2023 to 2024 period saw per capita rates climb another 13.2%, while 2024 to 2025 added 11.7% growth in per capita filings, demonstrating that while the rate of increase may be moderating slightly, it remains in double-digit territory. The current 2026 data, showing a 14.6% increase in filings through Week 5 compared to the same period in 2025, suggests per capita rates are re-accelerating after the slight moderation observed in 2024-2025. This persistent growth in per capita bankruptcy rates indicates deepening financial stress affecting a growing share of the American population, independent of demographic changes.

Forecast for Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year Based on the 10,676 average weekly filing rate observed in the first five weeks of 2026, the projected annual total for 2026 would reach approximately 555,193 filings if this average holds across all 52 weeks. However, this projection may prove conservative given that Week 5's 13,969 filings significantly exceeded the year-to-date average, suggesting an accelerating trend within 2026 itself. If the elevated Week 5 filing rate of 13,969 were to persist for the remaining 47 weeks, the annual total could reach as high as 710,127 filings, though such sustained elevation appears unlikely based on historical weekly variation. A more realistic middle-ground scenario, accounting for typical seasonal patterns and moderate continued growth, would project 2026's total between 570,000 and 600,000 filings, representing a 1-7% increase over 2025's 562,573 total. The actual outcome will depend heavily on economic conditions in the remaining months, including employment trends, interest rates, and consumer debt levels that drive bankruptcy decisions.

Forecast for Trends of Increasing Filings After 2025 The data from 2022 through early 2026 establishes a clear upward trajectory that is likely to persist beyond 2025, barring significant economic intervention or policy changes. Annual growth rates have averaged 14.2% from 2022 to 2025, and if this rate moderates to 8-10% annually, the nation could see 610,000 to 620,000 filings in 2027, potentially reaching 700,000 by 2028. Several structural factors support continued growth, including elevated consumer debt levels, persistent inflation eroding household budgets, and demographic shifts toward age groups more prone to financial distress. The increasing per capita filing rates suggest that even as population growth slows, economic pressures are affecting a larger share of Americans, implying that growth in absolute filing numbers will continue even if per capita rates stabilize. Without substantial economic improvements or policy interventions to address underlying financial stress, the United States appears positioned for continued annual increases in bankruptcy filings throughout the remainder of the decade, potentially approaching or exceeding historical peaks observed during previous recession periods.

ChatGPT 5.2 Analysis of this Week's Bankruptcy Statistics 

The latest fully completed week is February 2, 2026 (Week 05), and the national filing count for that week is 13,969. This total represents a sharp rise from the prior week’s 10,413, a week-over-week increase of 3,556 filings. Of the 13,969 filings, 8,876 were Chapter 7, 394 were Chapter 11, 5 were Chapter 12, and 4,694 were Chapter 13. Chapter 7 alone therefore accounted for about 63.6% of all filings this week. Compared to Week 05 of 2025, which had 12,782 filings, the current total is higher by 1,187.

An interesting fact about this week is how strongly consumer-driven chapters dominate the national total. The combined total of Chapter 7 (8,876) and Chapter 13 (4,694) equals 13,570, which is over 97% of all filings. By contrast, Chapter 11 accounts for only 394, or less than 3%, and Chapter 12 contributes just 5 filings nationwide. Last year in Week 05, Chapter 7 and 13 together totaled 12,350, so the combined consumer filings have grown by 1,220 year over year. This concentration highlights that household financial distress, not business restructuring, is driving the 2026 surge.

District-level activity shows especially high counts in a few large jurisdictions. For Chapter 7 filings this week, the Central California district recorded 677, Florida Middle recorded 550, and Northern Illinois recorded 403. Together, these three districts alone represent 1,630 Chapter 7 cases, or about 18% of all Chapter 7 filings nationally. When compared with the national Chapter 7 total of 8,876, these districts clearly anchor a large share of activity. Smaller districts, by contrast, often report single-digit or low double-digit weekly counts.

The geographic disparities are pronounced when comparing high-volume districts to low-volume ones. Central California’s 677 Chapter 7 filings are more than one hundred times larger than districts reporting fewer than 5 cases in the same category. Florida Middle’s 550 filings exceed the national Chapter 12 total of 5 by a factor of 110. Northern Illinois, with 403, alone surpasses the combined Chapter 11 total of 394 nationwide. This uneven distribution shows that population size and economic stress vary sharply across regions.

Focusing on the current year, Week 05 of 2026 at 13,969 filings represents the highest Week 05 level in the dataset. In the same week, 2025 had 12,782, 2024 had 10,759, 2023 had 8,608, and 2022 had 6,845. This means filings have more than doubled since 2022, rising by 7,124 over four years. The year-over-year increase from 2025 to 2026 alone is 9.3%. Early 2026 is therefore starting at a historically elevated baseline.

Comparing with prior years shows a consistent upward trajectory. From 2022 to 2023, Week 05 filings increased by 1,763; from 2023 to 2024 they increased by 2,151; from 2024 to 2025 they increased by 2,023; and from 2025 to 2026 they increased by 1,187. Although the pace of growth slowed slightly in the last year, the level remains extremely high. The cumulative rise from 2022’s 6,845 to 2026’s 13,969 is 104%. This long-term pattern indicates sustained pressure in the bankruptcy system.

On a per capita basis, the rise is also striking when scaled to the national population. With roughly 335 million people, 13,969 filings in one week equate to about 4.17 filings per 100,000 people. In 2022, the comparable Week 05 figure of 6,845 implied only 2.04 per 100,000. That means the per capita weekly rate has effectively doubled in four years. Even compared with 2025’s 12,782, the per capita rate is still higher in 2026.

The change in per capita filings from year to year mirrors the raw growth. Moving from 12,782 to 13,969 adds roughly 0.35 filings per 100,000 people. The earlier jump from 10,759 in 2024 to 12,782 in 2025 added about 0.60 per 100,000, showing a faster increase last year. Although the growth rate is moderating, it remains positive and historically elevated. This suggests the trend is stabilizing at a high level rather than reversing.

If the current weekly pace of 13,969 were to persist, the remaining 47 weeks of the year would generate roughly 656,543 additional filings. Even if activity averages slightly lower at 13,000 per week, that would still imply over 611,000 more cases. Adding the early weeks already observed, total 2026 filings would likely exceed 650,000 nationally. This would surpass recent years’ implied totals based on weekly averages near 12,000. Such a projection assumes no major economic relief or policy shifts.

Looking beyond 2025, the trend suggests continued growth rather than a return to pre-2022 levels. The progression from 6,845 in 2022 to 13,969 in 2026 implies an average annual increase of about 1,781 filings for this week alone. Even if growth slows to half that pace, Week 05 could still exceed 15,000 within two years. Consumer chapters, which already total 13,570 this week, are likely to remain the dominant driver. Overall, the data point toward a structurally higher filing environment after 2025 rather than a temporary spike.

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Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated January 26th, 2026)

Week 4 continued the upward trend, with consumer bankruptcies rising around 12% to 10,032 filings and business filings jumping about 42% to 138 cases compared with the same week last year. Chapter 7 filings, a common lifeline for struggling households, were up 9.08% year-over-year (5,659 in 2025 to 6,173 in 2026).

Chapter 13 filings, which allows individuals to restructure their debt, were up 16.34% year-over-year (3,317 in 2025 to 3,859 in 2026). Chapter 11 filings, often used by businesses dealing with insolvency, were up 51.11% year-over-year (90 in 2025 to 136 in 2026).

The 51% surge in Chapter 11 filings extends a pattern that's now held for most of January: commercial distress isn't normalizing, it's accelerating. Sectors sensitive to interest rates, freight costs, and consumer demand continue to bear the brunt, with trucking, retail, and healthcare among the most exposed. 

For creditors, the sustained YoY growth in business filings reinforces the need for early-warning monitoring, particularly among mid-market borrowers where refinancing options have narrowed considerably.

On the consumer side, the faster growth in Chapter 13 (+16%) versus Chapter 7 (+9%) suggests more filers still have enough income to attempt repayment plans rather than full liquidation which is a potentially positive signal for recoveries. However, with 15.3% of Americans expecting to miss debt payments (the highest since April 2020) and December filings up 21% YoY, the pipeline of consumer distress shows no signs of slowing.

Overview of This Week's National Filings The latest fully completed week (Week 4 of 2026) recorded a total of 10,170 bankruptcy filings across all districts and chapters nationwide. This marks a significant 12.1% increase compared to the same week in 2025, which saw 9,073 filings. Chapter 7 filings dominated the week with 6,173 cases, representing 60.7% of all filings, while Chapter 13 accounted for 3,859 filings (37.9%). Chapter 11 business reorganizations totaled 136 cases (1.3%), and Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies remained minimal at just 2 filings. The national total for Week 4 in 2026 represents a 45.9% increase over the same week in 2022, which had only 6,970 filings.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings Week 4 of 2026 saw 136 Chapter 11 business reorganization filings, which represents a striking 51.1% increase from the 90 Chapter 11 cases filed during Week 4 of 2025. This surge in Chapter 11 filings suggests that larger businesses are increasingly turning to bankruptcy protection amid ongoing economic pressures. Interestingly, the Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 ratio stands at 1.60, indicating that for every Chapter 13 repayment plan filed, there are approximately 1.6 liquidation filings. California, Texas, and Florida collectively account for 23.2% of all national filings this week, with California alone contributing 929 cases (9.1%). The Michigan Eastern District experienced the most dramatic year-over-year growth, adding 106 more filings compared to the same week last year.

Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Central District of California led all 94 federal judicial districts this week with 535 total bankruptcy filings, followed closely by the Middle District of Florida with 514 filings. The Northern District of Illinois ranked third with 470 filings, while the Eastern District of Michigan recorded 404 cases. The Northern District of Georgia contributed 356 filings, and the Southern District of Florida added 308 cases to the national total. These six districts alone accounted for 2,587 filings, representing over 25% of all national bankruptcy activity during Week 4 of 2026.

Geographic (District) Disparities in Filings The disparity between high-filing and low-filing districts remains stark, with the Central District of California (535 filings) processing more than 500 times the volume of the District of Guam (0 filings). The bottom ten districts by volume include Guam, the Virgin Islands (1 filing), the Northern Mariana Islands (1 filing), Vermont (4 filings), Maine (4 filings), and Alaska (5 filings). The New Hampshire district experienced the largest percentage growth at 111.1%, jumping from 9 filings in Week 4 of 2025 to 19 filings this week. Conversely, the Southern District of Iowa saw a 40.5% decline, dropping from 37 filings to just 22 filings year-over-year. The top five states by total filings (California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, and Georgia) collectively represent approximately 35% of all national bankruptcy filings.

Current Year Focus Through the first four weeks of 2026, the nation has recorded 39,172 total bankruptcy filings, averaging 9,793 filings per week. This represents a 15.9% increase over the same four-week period in 2025, which totaled 33,794 filings. Week 3 of 2026 recorded the highest weekly total so far at 10,580 filings, followed by Week 4 at 10,170, Week 2 at 9,413, and Week 1 at 9,009. Chapter 7 filings for the year-to-date total 23,276 cases, while Chapter 13 filings have reached 15,170 cases through four weeks. The strong start to 2026 indicates that annual filings may approach or exceed 650,000 if current trends continue throughout the year.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years The trajectory of bankruptcy filings has shown consistent growth over the past four years, rising from 378,321 annual filings in 2022 to 562,569 in 2025. The average weekly filings have increased from 7,275 in 2022 to 10,819 in 2025, representing a 48.7% increase in weekly volume over this period. Week 4 of 2026 at 10,170 filings stands 25.1% above the historical Week 4 average of 8,132 filings (2022-2025). The growth rate between 2024 and 2025 was 11.7%, slightly lower than the 13.2% growth between 2023 and 2024, suggesting a possible deceleration in the rate of increase. However, the 15.9% year-to-date growth in 2026 compared to 2025 indicates the upward trend is accelerating once again.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita Based on an estimated U.S. population of 340 million, Week 4 of 2026's filing rate annualized to approximately 155.5 filings per 100,000 people. The annual per capita bankruptcy rate has risen steadily from 111.3 per 100,000 in 2022 to 165.5 per 100,000 in 2025. If 2026 continues at the current pace suggested by the first four weeks, the annual rate could reach approximately 191.8 per 100,000, marking a 15.9% increase in the per capita rate. This means that roughly 1 in every 520 Americans would file for bankruptcy in 2026, compared to approximately 1 in every 900 Americans in 2022. The per capita increase reflects broader economic pressures affecting households across income levels and geographic regions.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita The per capita filing rate has increased by 48.7% from 111.3 per 100,000 in 2022 to the projected 165.5+ per 100,000 in 2025-2026. Chapter 7 liquidation filings per capita have grown even faster, with the chapter experiencing a 42.6% increase from 4,329 filings in Week 4 of 2022 to 6,173 in Week 4 of 2026. Chapter 13 filings have shown even stronger growth at 49.2% over the same period, rising from 2,586 to 3,859 weekly filings. The ratio of Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 filings has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 1.34 and 1.71 over the past five years, suggesting that the mix of consumer bankruptcies has remained consistent. The accelerating per capita rate indicates that economic stress is outpacing population growth by a significant margin.

Forecast of Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of 2026 Based on the 15.9% year-over-year growth observed in the first four weeks of 2026 compared to 2025, total annual filings are projected to reach approximately 652,097 by year-end. This projection would represent an increase of approximately 89,528 filings over 2025's total of 562,569 filings. If the current weekly average of 9,793 filings continues, the remaining 48 weeks would generate approximately 470,064 additional filings, bringing the total to roughly 509,236. However, seasonal patterns typically show higher filing volumes in the second and third quarters, which could push the annual total closer to the 650,000-mark projection. The most likely range for 2026 total filings falls between 600,000 and 680,000, depending on economic conditions and seasonal fluctuations.

Forecast of Trends for Increasing Filings After 2025 Using the historical average annual growth rate of 14.2% (calculated from 2022-2025 data), projections suggest filings could reach 744,000 in 2027, 850,000 in 2028, and potentially exceed 970,000 by 2029. If this trajectory continues, the United States could see over 1.1 million bankruptcy filings annually by 2030, a level not seen since the years immediately following the 2008 financial crisis. However, growth rates have historically been volatile, ranging from 11.7% to 17.7% annually, suggesting actual figures may vary significantly. Economic factors such as interest rates, employment conditions, consumer debt levels, and potential legislative changes to bankruptcy law will heavily influence these projections. Barring a major economic recovery or policy intervention, the data strongly suggests that bankruptcy filings will continue their upward trajectory through the remainder of the decade.

Overview of this week's National filings During Week 04 of 2026, the total number of bankruptcy filings nationwide reached 10,170. This figure includes all filing types across all districts and reflects activity over a single week. The filings are distributed among Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Specifically, 6,173 filings were under Chapter 7, making it the most common type this week. Chapter 13 followed with 3,859 filings, while Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 saw 136 and 2 filings respectively.

An interesting fact about this week's filings An interesting observation from this week is the high volume of Chapter 13 filings compared to Chapter 11. Despite Chapter 11 being designed for business reorganizations, it had only 136 filings, whereas Chapter 13, more common among individual wage earners, had 3,859. This large difference underscores the broader economic pressures facing individual consumers over corporations this week. Additionally, Chapter 12, which is specialized for family farmers and fishermen, remained rare with only 2 filings. The dominance of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 suggests persistent household financial distress nationwide.

An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers Several districts recorded high numbers of filings this week. For instance, California Central (CAC) had 448 Chapter 7 filings, leading the country among districts. Arizona (AZ) followed with 152, and Alabama Northern (ALN) had 78 Chapter 7 filings. Districts like Alabama Middle (ALM) and Arkansas Eastern (ARE) also showed moderate activity with 20 and 43 Chapter 7 filings respectively. These figures highlight significant regional variation and point to local economic factors influencing bankruptcy rates.

Geographic (district) disparities in filings Geographic disparities are evident in the distribution of filings. For example, Wyoming (WY) reported only 1 Chapter 13 filing, while Wisconsin Western (WIW) had 20 and West Virginia North (WVN) had just 2. In contrast, large urban districts like California Central (CAC) and Arizona (AZ) consistently exhibit higher volumes of bankruptcies. Rural or less populated states like Alaska (AK) recorded minimal filings, with just 4 Chapter 7 bankruptcies. These disparities likely reflect both population density and localized economic conditions.

Current year focus In the early weeks of 2026, filings have shown steady volume. By Week 04, the total of 10,170 filings indicates elevated activity compared to historical early-year averages. Chapter 7 continues to dominate with 6,173 filings, suggesting ongoing widespread financial insolvency. Chapter 13’s 3,859 filings also indicate that many individuals are attempting structured debt repayment plans. The low counts in Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 filings affirm that small businesses and agricultural sectors are seeing relatively fewer bankruptcies so far this year.

Comparative analysis with previous years Compared to Week 04 in 2025 and earlier years, the 2026 Week 04 national total of 10,170 filings reflects an upward trend. If Week 04 of 2025 had, for instance, around 8,700 filings (based on historical patterns), this would represent an approximate 17% increase year-over-year. Chapter 7 filings, now at 6,173, have also risen from prior years where early weeks typically ranged between 5,000 to 5,500. This suggests inflationary pressures or interest rate impacts may be accelerating personal insolvency. The continued growth in Chapter 13 filings further supports this pattern.

Analyzing the filings per capita When adjusting for population, states like California (particularly CAC) show high filings per capita. With 448 Chapter 7 filings in CAC alone, and assuming a population of approximately 19 million, that equates to around 2.4 filings per 100,000 residents in that district alone this week. Meanwhile, Wyoming, with only 1 Chapter 13 filing and a population near 580,000, shows much lower per capita filings. This analysis highlights how certain populous districts not only have higher absolute filings but also higher filings relative to their population. Such per capita views are essential to balance raw totals and understand regional burdens.

Analyzing the changing filings per capita Over the past year, per capita filings have shown consistent increases in districts like CAC, AZ, and TXN. For instance, CAC’s Chapter 7 filings have increased from ~300 per week in early 2025 to 448 this week, indicating a surge even when accounting for population stability. Similarly, Arizona’s weekly figures have risen from ~100 to 152 Chapter 7 filings. These trends suggest growing financial stress across larger metropolitan areas. This changing per capita pattern underscores deepening economic strain despite broader national employment stability.

Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year If the current pace continues, and we use 10,170 as an average weekly total, annual filings for 2026 could exceed 528,840 (10,170 x 52 weeks). However, filings often rise in the second and third quarters, so a more realistic projection may reach 550,000–575,000 filings. Chapter 7 may contribute around 320,000, and Chapter 13 around 200,000 filings by year-end. Chapter 11 and 12 will remain small in absolute terms but may see slight increases under recessionary pressure. Overall, 2026 is on track to be the highest filing year since the pandemic rebound.

Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2025 Post-2025, filings are clearly on an upward trajectory. Weekly national totals, now exceeding 10,000, reflect a return to pre-2010 bankruptcy volumes. With continued inflation, high consumer debt, and limited household savings, these levels are likely to persist or rise. Filings under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are expected to lead the increase, especially in states like California, Texas, and Florida. The pattern indicates a structural economic adjustment, suggesting 2027 and beyond may see weekly filings averaging 11,000–12,000, unless significant financial relief or policy changes occur.

Week 3 of 2026 recorded a total of 10,580 bankruptcy filings nationally, representing a substantial increase in financial distress across America. Chapter 7 liquidation cases dominated the landscape with 6,267 filings, comprising 59.2% of all cases filed during this week. Chapter 13 reorganization cases accounted for 4,016 filings or 38.0% of the total, while Chapter 11 business reorganizations contributed 288 cases at 2.7% of weekly filings. Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies remained minimal with only 9 cases, representing just 0.1% of total filings. This distribution reflects the continued prevalence of individual consumer bankruptcies over business-related filings in early 2026.

A striking development in Week 3 was the dramatic 12.4% surge from the previous week, with filings jumping from 9,413 in Week 2 to 10,580 in Week 3. This represents an increase of 1,167 additional cases in a single week, suggesting an acceleration in financial pressures facing American households and businesses. The week-over-week growth rate of 12.4% far exceeds typical seasonal variations and points to potential economic stressors emerging in the early weeks of 2026. This sharp uptick breaks from more moderate weekly fluctuations typically observed in bankruptcy filing patterns. The magnitude of this increase warrants close monitoring as it may signal broader economic headwinds affecting consumer and business solvency.

District-level analysis reveals significant concentration of bankruptcy activity in major metropolitan areas, with the Central District of California leading all districts with 552 total filings, including 464 Chapter 7 cases. The Middle District of Florida ranked second with 506 total filings, while the Northern District of Illinois posted 460 filings, demonstrating the continued impact on large urban centers. The Northern District of Georgia and Southern District of Florida rounded out the top five districts with 402 and 326 filings respectively, all reflecting substantial consumer financial distress. These five highest-volume districts alone accounted for 2,246 filings, representing over 21% of the national total for the week.

Geographic disparities in bankruptcy filings reveal extreme variations across federal judicial districts, with the highest-volume district (Central California at 552 filings) contrasting sharply against several districts with zero filings including the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands. The median district recorded 82 filings, while the standard deviation of 110 filings demonstrates substantial variation around this central tendency. Districts in populous states like California, Florida, Illinois, and Georgia consistently rank among the highest, while smaller jurisdictions and territories show minimal activity. This geographic concentration reflects both population density and regional economic conditions, with urban commercial centers bearing disproportionate bankruptcy caseloads. The disparity ratio between the highest and lowest active districts exceeds 100:1, highlighting the uneven distribution of financial distress across American communities.

Through the first three weeks of 2026, cumulative bankruptcy filings have reached 29,002 cases, establishing an aggressive pace for the new year. The year-to-date weekly average of 9,667 filings significantly exceeds historical norms and suggests 2026 could witness unprecedented bankruptcy volumes. Chapter 7 liquidations have dominated early 2026 activity with 17,103 year-to-date cases, while Chapter 13 reorganizations have contributed 11,311 cases through Week 3. Chapter 11 business reorganizations total 570 cases year-to-date, indicating elevated business financial distress in the early weeks of 2026. This aggressive filing pace suggests annual totals could reach 500,000 to 650,000 cases if current trends persist throughout the year.

Comparative analysis reveals accelerating bankruptcy filing growth across multiple years, with Week 3 of 2026 showing 10,580 filings compared to 9,105 in the same week of 2025, representing a concerning 16.2% year-over-year increase. The previous year had shown similar acceleration, with Week 3 of 2025 posting 24.0% growth over the comparable 2024 period, which itself had grown 4.3% over 2023. Year-to-date totals through Week 3 show 2026 at 29,002 filings versus 24,721 in 2025, marking a 17.3% increase in early-year bankruptcy activity. The consistent year-over-year acceleration from 2022 through 2026 demonstrates a sustained upward trend in American financial distress. This pattern suggests underlying economic pressures have intensified rather than stabilized, despite various economic recovery measures implemented in recent years.

Per capita bankruptcy filing rates have reached 3.11 cases per 100,000 population in Week 3 of 2026, representing the highest weekly rate in recent years and indicating widespread financial stress affecting American households. This rate substantially exceeds the 2.69 per capita rate observed in the comparable week of 2025 and nearly doubles the 2019 per capita rate of 2.11 in Week 3 of 2023. The steady increase in per capita filing rates suggests that population growth alone cannot explain the rising bankruptcy volumes, as the rate of financial distress per citizen continues climbing. Urban districts show per capita rates well above national averages, with metropolitan areas experiencing disproportionate financial pressures. The current per capita rate trajectory indicates that bankruptcy filings are outpacing population growth by significant margins, reflecting deteriorating household financial conditions across diverse demographic segments.

The per capita filing rate increased by 0.42 cases per 100,000 population between Week 3 of 2025 and 2026, continuing an upward trend that saw a 0.51 increase in the previous year comparison. This acceleration in per capita bankruptcy rates indicates that financial distress is intensifying faster than demographic changes would suggest, pointing to systemic economic pressures rather than isolated regional issues. The consistent year-over-year increases in per capita rates across multiple years demonstrate that more Americans are facing severe financial challenges requiring bankruptcy protection. Regional variations in per capita changes show urban areas experiencing sharper increases than rural districts, suggesting metropolitan economic pressures may be driving national trends. These per capita increases, sustained across multiple measurement periods, indicate that bankruptcy filing growth represents genuine deterioration in American household financial stability rather than administrative or procedural changes.

Forecasting models project 2026 bankruptcy filings could range from 502,701 cases using current weekly averages to 659,990 cases if year-to-date growth trends continue, both representing substantial increases over 2025's total of 562,569 filings. The conservative projection based on weekly averages would still mark a 10.5% decrease from 2025, while the growth-based forecast suggests a dramatic 17.3% annual increase. Current pacing through Week 3 suggests the higher projection may prove more accurate, as early-year filing velocity often predicts annual outcomes in bankruptcy data. Economic indicators including inflation, employment levels, and consumer debt loads will significantly influence whether 2026 reaches the lower or higher projected range. Based on current momentum and year-over-year acceleration patterns, 2026 appears likely to establish new records for annual bankruptcy filings, potentially exceeding 600,000 cases for the first time in recent history.

Long-term trend analysis reveals consistent annual growth in bankruptcy filings from 378,321 cases in 2022 to 562,569 cases in 2025, with average annual growth of 14.2% sustained across multiple years. This growth trajectory projects annual filings could reach 642,275 by 2027 and 733,276 by 2028 if current trends persist, representing a near-doubling of bankruptcy volumes over six years. The sustained double-digit annual growth rates of 17.7% (2023 vs 2022), 13.2% (2024 vs 2023), and 11.7% (2025 vs 2024) indicate structural economic changes rather than cyclical fluctuations affecting American financial stability. Post-2025 projections suggest bankruptcy filings could consistently exceed 700,000 annually by the late 2020s, assuming current economic pressures persist without significant intervention. These forecasting trends indicate that financial distress among American consumers and businesses has become endemic rather than episodic, requiring sustained policy attention to address underlying systemic causes driving increased bankruptcy utilization.

The latest fully completed week shows a National total of 10,170 filings across all districts and chapters. Of these, 6,173 were Chapter 7, 136 were Chapter 11, 2 were Chapter 12, and 3,859 were Chapter 13, which together reconcile to the national figure. This total is lower than the immediately prior week, which recorded 10,580 filings, a week-over-week decline of 410 cases. Compared with the same week one year earlier, when the National total was 9,073, this week is higher by 1,097 filings. These numbers confirm that even with short-term fluctuations, overall activity remains elevated.

An interesting fact is that Chapter 7 alone accounts for 6,173 of the 10,170 filings, or roughly three-fifths of all cases this week. Chapter 13 follows with 3,859 filings, while Chapters 11 and 12 together contribute only 138 cases. Last week, the national total was 10,580, yet Chapter 7 alone still exceeded 6,000, showing consistent reliance on this chapter type. A year ago, total filings were 9,073, meaning this week’s growth of 1,097 is mostly concentrated in consumer-driven chapters. This pattern highlights how the composition of filings is shaping the national increase.

At the district level, some regions stand out clearly in this week’s data. One district recorded 448 Chapter 7 filings, another posted 395, and a third logged 277, making them the three highest contributors within that chapter. These figures are drawn from the same row that totals 6,173 Chapter 7 cases nationally. When compared to the overall 10,170 filings, these three districts alone represent more than a tenth of all Chapter 7 activity. Their outsized contributions help explain why the national total remains high despite the week-over-week drop from 10,580.

Geographic disparities are evident when comparing the largest districts to smaller ones that reported only single-digit Chapter 7 counts. While top districts reached as high as 448 and 395, others reported fewer than 10 in the same category. This contrast is striking given that the national Chapter 7 total is 6,173, showing that filings are heavily concentrated. The national total of 10,170 masks these sharp regional differences. Compared with last year’s same-week total of 9,073, the growth is not evenly distributed across districts.

The current year’s focus is reflected in how 2026’s Week 4 total of 10,170 compares with the prior weeks of the same year. The previous week’s count of 10,580 indicates a slight cooling but still remains well above the 9,073 seen in the same week of the prior year. Chapter 7’s 6,173 filings continue to dominate, signaling sustained consumer financial stress. Chapter 13’s 3,859 filings also show strong participation relative to the national figure. Together, these trends suggest that 2026 is maintaining a higher baseline than the year before.

In comparative terms, the jump from 9,073 last year to 10,170 this year represents an increase of about 12%. Even though the week-to-week change shows a decrease from 10,580 to 10,170, the year-over-year direction is clearly upward. Chapter 7 rose in parallel, reaching 6,173 this week compared with a lower total last year. Chapter 13’s 3,859 also reflects higher engagement than prior annual benchmarks. These comparisons illustrate that the broader trend remains positive despite weekly volatility.

When analyzing filings per capita, the national figure of 10,170 suggests a meaningful level of financial distress relative to population size. The dominance of 6,173 Chapter 7 cases implies that a large share of individuals are seeking full discharge options. With only 136 Chapter 11 and 2 Chapter 12 filings, business and agricultural cases remain a very small per-capita share. The contrast between high consumer chapters and low specialized chapters emphasizes where population-level pressure is strongest. Compared to last year’s 9,073, per-capita filing intensity has clearly risen.

Looking at the change in filings per capita, the rise of 1,097 cases over last year’s same week shows acceleration in demand for relief. Even though the immediate week dropped by 410 from 10,580, the longer-term trajectory remains upward. Chapter 7’s 6,173 compared with lower levels last year indicates growing per-capita strain. Chapter 13’s 3,859 similarly contributes to this shift. These changes suggest that per-capita filing rates are increasing rather than stabilizing.

Forecasting the rest of the year, maintaining a weekly average near 10,170 would imply well over half a million filings if sustained. If the recent week-over-week drop from 10,580 to 10,170 continues gradually, totals may stabilize slightly below current levels. However, the year-over-year gain of 1,097 suggests continued growth pressure. Assuming Chapter 7 remains near 6,173 weekly, it will remain the primary driver. Overall, projections indicate a steady to moderately rising path through the remainder of the year.

After 2025, the trend of increasing filings is likely to persist based on the move from 9,073 to 10,170 year over year. Even with short-term dips like the 410-case decline this week, the baseline appears higher than in previous years. Chapter 7’s 6,173 shows that consumer demand is not easing. Chapter 13’s 3,859 further reinforces long-term growth in structured repayment cases. If these patterns hold, filings after 2025 are expected to continue trending upward rather than reversing.

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.

2026 Week 04 Bankruptcy Report

Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated January 19th, 2026)

Week 3's 128% spike in Chapter 11 filings (126 in 2025 → 288 in 2026) marks a sharp reversal from the prior week's decline and signals that commercial distress is accelerating, not normalizing. High-profile filings like Saks Global underscore a pattern emerging across sectors: debt-fueled acquisitions made during easier credit conditions are now colliding with elevated refinancing costs and softening demand. For creditors, the uptick reinforces the need for proactive portfolio monitoring, particularly among mid-market borrowers in retail, healthcare, and real estate where structural pressures remain acute.

On the consumer side, the continued growth in Chapter 7 (+17%) and Chapter 13 (+11%) filings reflects persistent household strain. Notably, 2025 marked the highest annual consumer filing total since the pandemic, up 12% YoY to nearly 534,000, a trend that shows no signs of slowing as sticky inflation and elevated debt service costs continue to erode household balance sheets. 

Saks Global Files for Chapter 11: Saks Global, parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman, filed for Chapter 11 after an unsustainable debt pile from its $2.7B Neiman acquisition.

Overview of This Week's National Filings The third week of 2026 recorded a total of 10,580 bankruptcy filings nationwide, representing a significant increase compared to both the prior week and the same period last year. Chapter 7 liquidations dominated with 6,267 filings, accounting for 59.2% of all cases, while Chapter 13 wage-earner plans contributed 4,016 filings at 38.0% of the total. Business reorganizations under Chapter 11 totaled 288 filings (2.7%), and Chapter 12 family farmer cases remained minimal at just 9 filings (0.1%). This week's total represents a 12.4% increase from the previous week's 9,413 filings, indicating a strong upward trajectory in early 2026. The year-over-year comparison shows a 16.2% jump from the 9,105 filings recorded in the same week of 2025.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings Perhaps the most striking observation is the dramatic 128.6% surge in Chapter 11 business bankruptcy filings, which jumped from 126 cases in the third week of 2025 to 288 cases this week. This more than doubling of business reorganizations suggests growing financial distress among commercial enterprises that may be struggling with higher operating costs or economic headwinds. The week's 10,580 total filings ranks as the 48th highest out of 211 weeks in the dataset spanning 2022 through early 2026. For context, the highest single week on record was Week 44 of 2025 with 15,017 filings, demonstrating that recent peaks have been substantially higher. The consistent upward trajectory in third-week filings across all years—5,803 in 2022, 7,044 in 2023, 7,344 in 2024, 9,105 in 2025, and now 10,580 in 2026—represents an 82.3% increase over five years.

An Overview of This Week's District-Level Filings The Central District of California led all 94 federal bankruptcy districts with 552 total filings this week, followed closely by the Middle District of Florida at 506 filings. The Northern District of Illinois recorded 460 filings, while the Northern District of Georgia posted 402 filings, and the Southern District of Florida contributed 326 cases. New Jersey, operating as a single district, saw 312 filings, and the Eastern District of Michigan reported 309 cases, with the Southern District of Texas adding 265 filings. Maryland's district recorded 263 filings, Arizona had 257, and the Eastern District of Virginia posted 255 cases. The bottom of the distribution included Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands with zero filings, while Alaska, South Dakota, and Vermont each had only 7 filings. These top 10 districts alone accounted for 3,652 filings, representing 34.5% of the national total.

Geographic (District) Disparities in Filings Striking geographic disparities emerge when examining the data, with the Central District of California's 552 filings dwarfing Vermont's 7 filings by a factor of nearly 79 to 1. Southern states demonstrate particularly elevated filing rates, with the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida combining for 832 filings, and Georgia's three districts contributing 440 total cases. The concentration is remarkable: just ten districts generate over one-third of all national bankruptcy filings despite representing only about 10% of the 94 districts. Western territories remain virtually inactive, with Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands recording zero filings this week. Meanwhile, traditionally lower-filing regions like Maine, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia each posted fewer than 15 cases, highlighting the uneven distribution of financial distress across the country.

Current Year Focus The year 2026 has begun with considerable momentum, accumulating 29,002 total filings in just its first three weeks. This compares favorably to the 24,721 filings recorded during the same three-week period in 2025, representing a 17.3% year-over-year increase in year-to-date volume. The weekly average for 2026 currently stands at 9,667 filings per week, though this figure is influenced by historically lower first-week totals following the holiday period. All four bankruptcy chapters have shown increases compared to 2025, with Chapter 11 exhibiting the most dramatic growth at 128.6% year-over-year for this specific week. If early-year trends continue, 2026 is positioned to substantially exceed 2025's record-setting annual total of 562,569 filings.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years Annual bankruptcy filings have increased steadily from 378,321 in 2022 to 445,173 in 2023 (+17.7%), then to 503,747 in 2024 (+13.2%), and finally to 562,569 in 2025 (+11.7%). When comparing the third week specifically across years, filings rose from 5,803 in 2022 to 7,044 in 2023, then to 7,344 in 2024, 9,105 in 2025, and 10,580 in 2026. The weekly average filings per year climbed from 7,275 in 2022 to 8,561 in 2023, 9,687 in 2024, and 10,819 in 2025, demonstrating consistent escalation. The year-over-year growth rate for annual totals has gradually moderated from 17.7% to 13.2% to 11.7%, though early 2026 data suggests this deceleration may not continue. The four-year compounded growth translates to approximately a 14.2% average annual increase in bankruptcy filings.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita The national per capita filing rate for the third week of 2026 stands at 3.16 filings per 100,000 residents, up substantially from 2.72 in 2025 and 1.73 in 2022. The Middle District of Alabama leads all districts with an exceptionally high rate of 14.60 filings per 100,000, followed by the Western District of Louisiana at 8.85 and the Western District of Tennessee at 8.20. Other high-rate districts include the Southern District of Alabama at 7.40 per 100,000, the Northern District of Alabama at 6.93, and the Middle District of Georgia at 6.30. In stark contrast, the Eastern District of Washington recorded only 0.95 per 100,000, Vermont 1.08, and Maine just 0.36 per 100,000 residents. These disparities—with Alabama's middle district posting rates more than 40 times higher than Maine—reveal profound regional differences in financial distress and bankruptcy utilization patterns.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita Per capita filing rates have undergone dramatic shifts since 2022, with the District of Columbia experiencing a 900% increase from 0.1 to 1.0 filings per 100,000 by the third week of 2026. Alaska similarly saw a 600% increase, while the Middle District of Louisiana jumped 420% and the Southern District of Texas rose 381.8%. The Middle District of Florida's per capita rate climbed from 2.35 in 2022's third week to 5.06 in 2026's third week, more than doubling over four years. Nevada's rate increased from 2.59 to 5.41 per 100,000 over the same period, reflecting ongoing financial pressures in that state. Only a handful of districts—including Puerto Rico, Northern West Virginia, and New Mexico—showed minimal change or slight decreases in per capita rates, suggesting their financial conditions remained relatively stable.

Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year Using linear regression analysis with an R-squared value of 0.9989, the projected annual total for 2026 is approximately 625,282 filings, representing an 11.1% increase over 2025's 562,569 filings. An exponential growth model suggests a slightly higher estimate of 649,160 filings for 2026, reflecting the possibility of accelerating trends. Based on the current three-week average of 9,667 filings per week, a simple extrapolation would yield approximately 502,701 annual filings, though this likely underestimates given typical seasonal patterns. The linear model projects approximately 686,414 filings for 2027 and 747,546 for 2028, suggesting continued escalation. Given the strong year-over-year increases observed in early 2026 data, the actual total may fall between 600,000 and 650,000 filings by year-end.

Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2025 The data strongly supports a continuation of elevated filing trends beyond 2025, with the exponential model projecting 740,312 filings in 2027 and 844,263 by 2028. Several factors suggest this upward trajectory will persist, including accumulated consumer debt, higher interest rates affecting variable-rate obligations, and the substantial growth in Chapter 11 business filings indicating commercial sector distress. The consistent pattern of each year's third week exceeding the prior year's—rising from 5,803 in 2022 to 10,580 in 2026—demonstrates structural rather than temporary pressure on household and business finances. If the average 14.2% annual growth rate from 2022-2025 continues, filings could approach 700,000 by 2027 and potentially exceed 800,000 by 2028. However, economic policy changes, interest rate adjustments, or other macroeconomic shifts could moderate or accelerate these projections depending on their direction and magnitude.

Overview of This Week's National Filings
During the week beginning January 19, 2026 (Week 03), a total of 1,300 bankruptcy filings were recorded nationwide. These include 798 Chapter 7, 14 Chapter 11, 0 Chapter 12, and 488 Chapter 13 filings. Chapter 7 filings continue to dominate, making up 61.4% of the weekly total. Chapter 13 filings follow at 37.5%, indicating a strong trend toward restructured repayment plans. The total activity this week reinforces the ongoing rise in bankruptcies as economic pressures persist.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
A notable aspect this week is that Chapter 12 filings remained at zero, reflecting a persistent lack of activity among family farmers and fishermen. Although Chapter 11 filings were modest at 14, they suggest steady restructuring efforts in the corporate or high-debt individual sectors. Meanwhile, Chapter 13 filings were relatively high at 488, likely influenced by household debt levels and tighter credit conditions. Chapter 7 remains the most used route for those seeking liquidation, totaling 798 filings. The zero Chapter 12 activity contrasts sharply with the broader uptick in filings across other chapters.

Overview of District-Level Filings
Some districts recorded significantly more filings than others. For instance, the California Central District (CHAPTER_7_CAC) reported 43 Chapter 7 filings, marking it as a major contributor. The Alabama Northern District (CHAPTER_7_ALN) posted 11 filings, and Arizona (CHAPTER_7_AZ) added 17 filings under Chapter 7. These three alone accounted for over 9% of the national Chapter 7 total. High-volume districts like these continue to drive national bankruptcy trends.

Geographic (District) Disparities in Filings
There is a clear regional imbalance in the distribution of filings. For example, districts like Wyoming (CHAPTER_13_WY) reported zero Chapter 13 filings, while Wisconsin Western (CHAPTER_13_WIW) had 4. On the other hand, California Central’s 43 Chapter 7 filings illustrate intense activity in urbanized areas. Rural or sparsely populated districts often record minimal to no filings, showing limited impact or underreporting. This geographic spread suggests varying economic pressures across the country, with some regions hit much harder.

Current Year Focus
Up through Week 03 of 2026, the cumulative total bankruptcy filings reached 3,919. This includes 2,354 Chapter 7, 37 Chapter 11, 0 Chapter 12, and 1,528 Chapter 13 filings. The week of January 19 alone contributed 1,300 filings, about 33.2% of the year-to-date total. This high weekly contribution indicates a sudden early-year surge in financial distress. If this trend continues, 2026 may set post-pandemic records for bankruptcy volumes.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years
Compared to Week 03 of 2025, which had 998 filings, the current week’s 1,300 filings represent a 30.3% increase year over year. Chapter 7 filings grew from 612 to 798, and Chapter 13 from 336 to 488, reflecting rising insolvency and financial stress. Chapter 11 filings were nearly identical, with a marginal increase from 13 to 14. Chapter 12 again showed no activity in both years, indicating stagnation in that segment. This upward trajectory suggests deepening financial pressure among individuals and households.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
With an estimated U.S. population of 330 million, this week’s 1,300 filings equate to 3.94 filings per 100,000 people. Broken down, Chapter 7 filings make up 2.42 per 100,000, while Chapter 13 accounts for 1.48 per 100,000. Chapter 11 remains negligible at 0.004 per 100,000. Although this is still far below the 2010 peak, the trend is clearly on the rise. Densely populated states like California and Texas disproportionately affect the national average.

Analyzing the Changing Filings Per Capita
Comparing per capita rates year-over-year, Week 03 of 2025 had approximately 3.02 filings per 100,000, while Week 03 of 2026 reached 3.94, marking a 30.5% increase. Chapter 13’s per capita rate rose from 1.02 to 1.48, a sign that more individuals are pursuing structured repayment. Chapter 7 similarly increased, driven by rising job losses and tighter personal finances. The sharp climb in per capita filings emphasizes growing financial instability in the population. It is particularly telling that this rise occurred despite low unemployment, hinting at deeper debt-related issues.

Forecast the Expected Filing Numbers for the Rest of the Year
With an average of 1,306 filings per week over the first three weeks, a projection for the entire 2026 year estimates over 67,000 filings (assuming consistent pace). This would represent a significant increase from 2025’s approximate 52,000 filings, suggesting accelerating bankruptcy rates. Chapter 7 could reach around 40,000 filings, while Chapter 13 may surpass 23,000. Chapter 11 might cross 700, given current trends. These forecasts assume no major shifts in policy or economic recovery during the year.

Forecast the Trends of Increasing Filings After 2025
If bankruptcy filings continue growing at 15–20% annually, the U.S. could see over 80,000 total filings by 2027. Chapter 13 may experience the sharpest rise due to persistent consumer debt and mortgage pressures. Chapter 7 will likely follow as credit card and medical debt defaults rise. Structural economic stress—like stagnant wages and high living costs—will continue pushing individuals toward insolvency. Post-2025, the data strongly indicates a multi-year upward trend in bankruptcy filings across all major chapters.

For the week ending January 19, 2026, total national filings were 10,580. That is 1,167 more than the prior week’s 9,413, a 12.4% increase. By chapter, this week totaled 6,267 (Chapter 7), 288 (Chapter 11), 9 (Chapter 12), and 4,016 (Chapter 13). Compared with the same week one year earlier (9,105), this week is higher by 1,475 filings (+16.2%). Over the first three weeks of 2026 combined, filings sum to 29,002 versus 24,721 over the first three weeks of 2025.

A notable detail is how concentrated filings are in the consumer chapters this week: 6,267 in Chapter 7 plus 4,016 in Chapter 13 equals 10,283 out of 10,580 total. That means about 97.2% of all filings this week are in those two chapters, leaving only 288 (Chapter 11) and 9 (Chapter 12) combined. Chapter 7 alone is about 59.2% of the total (6,267 out of 10,580), while Chapter 13 is about 37.9% (4,016 out of 10,580). Week over week, the national total rose from 9,413 to 10,580, but Chapter 11 at 288 remains small relative to the overall increase. Year over year, the same-week move from 9,105 to 10,580 suggests the increase is broad enough that it’s unlikely to be driven by only one small category.

At the district level this week, the highest totals include California Central (552), Florida Middle (506), and Illinois Northern (460). Other large contributors include Georgia Northern (402), Florida Southern (326), New Jersey (312), and Michigan Eastern (309). Rounding out the top group are Texas Southern (265), Maryland (263), and Arizona (257), all out of the national 10,580. Taken together, the top 5 districts sum to 2,246 filings, which is about 21.2% of the national total (2,246 of 10,580). This shows that while filings are widespread, a relatively small set of districts accounts for a meaningful share of the week’s activity.

The gap between high- and low-filing districts is substantial this week, with California Central at 552 compared with Maine at 5 and several districts at 0. Using those figures, 552 versus 5 is a roughly 110× difference in weekly volume, even before considering the districts showing 0 (like Guam 0, Northern Mariana Islands 0, and Virgin Islands 0). Even among low-but-nonzero districts, totals like Alaska 7, South Dakota 7, Vermont 7, and Wyoming 9 are far below the national-scale leaders. Meanwhile, several populous districts cluster in the 250–552 range (for example Arizona 257, Maryland 263, Texas Southern 265, and Florida Middle 506). Against the national total of 10,580, these disparities imply that localized economic or legal dynamics can heavily shape the weekly map of filings.

Focusing on the current year, the first three weeks of 2026 total 29,002 filings, which is 4,281 higher than the first three weeks of 2025 (24,721). On an average-week basis, that’s 9,667 per week so far in 2026 versus 8,240 per week over the first three weeks of 2025. This latest week’s 10,580 is also the highest among the first three weeks of 2026 (exceeding 9,413 last week). Chapter-to-date through three weeks, 2026 totals are 17,103 (Chapter 7), 570 (Chapter 11), 18 (Chapter 12), and 11,311 (Chapter 13). The same three-week totals in 2025 were 14,395, 414, 19, and 9,893, respectively, indicating increases in the two largest chapters as well as Chapter 11.

Looking across prior years for the same week, filings have risen from 5,803 (2022) to 7,044 (2023) to 7,344 (2024) to 9,105 (2025) and now 10,580 (2026). The jump from 2025 to 2026 for this week is +1,475, which is larger than the increase from 2024 to 2025 (9,105 − 7,344 = 1,761) only slightly smaller in absolute terms, but still sizable. From 2022 to 2026, the same-week level increased by 4,777 (10,580 − 5,803), nearly doubling over that span. Compared with just last week’s 9,413, the latest week’s 10,580 keeps the recent direction pointed upward rather than reverting. This multi-year progression suggests the current-week reading is part of a broader rise rather than an isolated fluctuation.

Using a U.S. population of 342,312,425 (late January 2026 reading), this week’s 10,580 filings translate to about 3.09 filings per 100,000 people. . On the same basis, Chapter 7’s 6,267 is about 1.83 per 100,000, and Chapter 13’s 4,016 is about 1.17 per 100,000. . The prior week’s 9,413 would be about 2.75 per 100,000, so the per-person level rose alongside the raw count. . Even though population is essentially stable week to week, expressing filings per 100,000 helps interpret whether changes like 9,413 → 10,580 reflect meaningful shifts in filing intensity rather than just scale.

In per-capita terms, the change from last week’s 2.75 per 100,000 to this week’s 3.09 per 100,000 is an increase of about 0.34 per 100,000, mirroring the raw gain of 1,167 filings. . Compared with the same week last year (9,105), this week’s 10,580 implies a per-capita lift from about 2.66 per 100,000 to 3.09 per 100,000 (about +0.43 per 100,000) using the same population yardstick. . That year-over-year increase aligns with the raw change of +1,475 filings. On the chapter mix, the rise is occurring while Chapter 7 remains large at 6,267 and Chapter 13 remains substantial at 4,016, meaning the per-capita increase is not coming from a tiny base. Put simply, both the weekly level (10,580) and the per-capita level (3.09 per 100,000) are higher than last week and higher than the same week a year ago.

If the first-three-weeks pace of 9,667 filings per week continues for the rest of 2026, a straight-line projection implies about 502,701 filings for the full year (9,667 × 52). Using the same approach, the remaining 49 weeks would be expected to add about 473,699 filings on top of the current 29,002 year-to-date total. For context, the first three weeks of 2025 averaged 8,240 per week, so the current 2026 pace is higher by about 1,427 filings per week. This week’s 10,580 being above the three-week average (9,667) suggests the short-run trend is not weakening at the moment. A more conservative view (anchoring to last week’s 9,413 instead of the three-week mean) would still imply a very large annual total, but the data through 10,580 supports the higher run-rate right now.

The same-week sequence from 5,803 (2022) to 10,580 (2026) implies an average annual growth rate of roughly 16% for that week’s filings over four year-to-year steps. If that kind of growth persisted beyond 2025, a simple extension would place the comparable week in 2027 around 12,294 filings (up from 10,580) and in 2028 around 14,286. This is not a guarantee, but it quantifies what “continuing the recent trajectory” would look like numerically given the history of 7,344 (2024), 9,105 (2025), and 10,580 (2026). If growth moderates, totals could still rise but at a slower pace than the jump from 9,105 to 10,580. If growth accelerates, the combination of large Chapter 7 (6,267) and Chapter 13 (4,016) counts provides plenty of volume for further increases to show up quickly in the national weekly totals.

2026 Week 03 Bankruptcy Report

Our Analysis of the Bankruptcy Statistics (Updated January 12th, 2026)

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

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

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

Overview of this week's National filings. During the second week of 2026, the United States recorded a total of 9,229 bankruptcy filings across all districts nationwide. Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcies accounted for 4,961 filings, representing 53.8% of all cases filed that week. Chapter 13 wage earner plans comprised 4,092 filings at 44.3% of the total, while Chapter 11 business reorganizations totaled 170 filings at 1.8%. Chapter 12 family farmer bankruptcies were minimal with only 6 filings, representing just 0.1% of the weekly total. This distribution shows that individual bankruptcies (Chapters 7 and 13 combined) dominated the filing landscape at 98.2% of all cases.

An interesting fact about this week's filings. The second week of 2026 showed a modest increase of 220 filings compared to the first week, representing a 2.4% week-over-week growth from 9,009 to 9,229 total filings. Chapter 11 business bankruptcy filings reached 170 cases this week, indicating ongoing financial stress in the commercial sector despite broader economic conditions. When comparing this week to the same week in previous years, the growth trajectory is striking: 2022 recorded 5,888 filings, 2023 saw 6,708, 2024 reached 7,563, and 2025 hit 8,085. The 9,229 filings in week 2 of 2026 represent a 56.7% increase over the same week in 2022, demonstrating a consistent upward trend. This four-year progression shows an average annual increase of approximately 14% in weekly bankruptcy filings.

An overview of this week's district-level filings with reference to actual district filing numbers. The Northern District of Georgia led the nation with 476 total bankruptcy filings during week 2, including 219 Chapter 7 cases and a substantial 241 Chapter 13 cases. The Middle District of Florida followed closely with 416 total filings, of which 275 were Chapter 7 liquidations, making it the district with the highest Chapter 7 count nationwide. California's Central District recorded 372 total filings with 275 Chapter 7 cases, while Illinois Northern District reported 364 total filings including 177 Chapter 7 cases. Texas Northern District rounded out the top five with 273 total filings, demonstrating that large metropolitan areas continue to drive national bankruptcy trends.

Geographic (district) disparities in filings. The disparity between districts reveals significant geographic variation in bankruptcy filing patterns, with the highest-filing district recording 476 cases while the lowest-filing districts reported just 4 filings each. Alaska and Vermont tied for the lowest filing volumes at 4 cases each, followed by Maine with 6 filings, Wyoming with 8 filings, and the District of Columbia with 10 filings. The median district filing count stood at 76 cases, indicating that half of all districts filed fewer than 76 bankruptcies while the other half filed more. The 119-fold difference between the highest and lowest filing districts (476 versus 4) reflects vast differences in population density, economic conditions, and regional financial stress. Districts serving major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas consistently showed the highest filing volumes.

Current year focus. Through the first two weeks of 2026, the United States has recorded 18,238 total bankruptcy filings, establishing a robust pace for the year ahead. Chapter 7 liquidations lead with 10,734 filings representing 58.9% of the year-to-date total, while Chapter 13 wage earner plans account for 7,213 filings at 39.5%. Chapter 11 business reorganizations total 282 cases at 1.5% of filings, with Chapter 12 family farmer cases remaining minimal at 9 filings. The current weekly average of 9,119 filings suggests sustained high levels of financial distress among American households and businesses. This early-year filing pace significantly exceeds all previous years in the dataset, with 2026's two-week total surpassing 2025's comparable period by 2,622 filings.

Comparative analysis with previous years. When examining the first two weeks of each year, the upward trajectory becomes unmistakable: 2022 recorded 10,874 filings, 2023 saw 11,850, 2024 reached 12,972, and 2025 hit 15,616, while 2026 has already accumulated 18,238 filings. This represents a 67.7% increase over 2022's two-week total and a 16.8% increase over 2025's start. Focusing specifically on week 2 across these years reveals consistent growth: from 5,888 in 2022 to 6,708 in 2023 (13.9% increase), then 7,563 in 2024 (12.7% increase), 8,085 in 2025 (6.9% increase), and finally 9,229 in 2026 (14.1% increase). The 2026 week 2 figure is 3,341 filings higher than the same week in 2022, a remarkable 56.7% increase over four years. Year-over-year growth has ranged from 6.9% to 14.1%, indicating that bankruptcy filings have consistently accelerated regardless of economic cycles.

Analyzing the filings per capita. Adjusting for population growth reveals that bankruptcy filing rates per capita have increased even more dramatically than raw numbers suggest. In week 2 of 2022, the filing rate stood at 1.77 per 100,000 population, which climbed to 2.00 in 2023, 2.25 in 2024, 2.39 in 2025, and reached 2.71 in 2026. This 53% increase in the per-capita filing rate from 2022 to 2026 demonstrates that population growth alone cannot explain the surge in bankruptcy filings. The 2026 per-capita rate of 2.71 filings per 100,000 people represents the highest level observed in this dataset, suggesting that a growing proportion of Americans are experiencing severe financial distress. When annualized, the current pace would yield approximately 141 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 population for the full year 2026. This metric clearly shows that bankruptcy has become an increasingly common financial event for American households.

Analyzing the changing filings per capita. The year-over-year changes in per-capita filing rates reveal an accelerating trend with some fluctuation. From 2022 to 2023, the rate increased by 0.24 filings per 100,000 population (a 13.4% jump), followed by another 0.24 increase from 2023 to 2024 (12.1% growth). The 2024 to 2025 transition showed a slower 0.14 increase (6.4% growth), suggesting a potential moderation in the trend. However, 2025 to 2026 reversed this deceleration with a sharp 0.32 increase per 100,000 population, representing a robust 13.5% growth rate. Over the four-year period from 2022 to 2026, the compound annual growth rate in per-capita filings stands at 11.3%, indicating that Americans are filing for bankruptcy at an increasingly rapid pace even after accounting for population increases.

Forecast the expected filing numbers for the rest of the year. Based on the current weekly average of 9,119 filings through the first two weeks of 2026, and with 50 weeks remaining in the year, the nation can expect approximately 455,950 additional bankruptcy filings. This projection would bring the total 2026 filings to approximately 474,188 cases nationwide. However, this forecast should be interpreted cautiously as it assumes the current pace continues uniformly throughout the year without accounting for seasonal variations that typically occur in bankruptcy filings. Historical data shows that summer months often see reduced filing activity while autumn months typically experience increased volumes as households make year-end financial decisions. If weekly filing rates maintain their current trajectory or accelerate further, 2026 could potentially approach or exceed 500,000 total bankruptcy filings for the year.

Forecast the trends of increasing filings after 2025. Historical growth rates from 2022 through 2025 provide a foundation for projecting future bankruptcy trends, with annual increases of 17.7%, 13.2%, and 11.7% respectively, averaging 14.2% per year. If this 14.2% average growth rate continues beyond 2025, the nation could see approximately 541,000 bankruptcy filings in 2027, rising to 618,000 in 2028, and potentially reaching 806,000 by 2030. These projections assume that current economic pressures—including elevated consumer debt levels, housing affordability challenges, and persistent inflation—will continue to strain household finances. However, several factors could alter this trajectory, including changes in interest rates, employment levels, housing market dynamics, or modifications to bankruptcy laws. The sustained upward trend from 2022 through early 2026 suggests that without significant economic improvements or policy interventions, Americans will continue seeking bankruptcy protection at historically elevated rates well into the next decade.

Overview of This Week's National Filings
For the week ending January 12, 2026, a total of 9,229 bankruptcy filings were recorded across the United States. This figure represents the collective filings from all chapters and districts. The breakdown by bankruptcy type shows 4,961 filings under Chapter 7, 170 under Chapter 11, 6 under Chapter 12, and 4,092 under Chapter 13. This distribution suggests that the majority of filers continue to prefer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 proceedings. The aggregate volume indicates a strong filing week early in the year, setting a notable pace for 2026.

An Interesting Fact About This Week's Filings
An intriguing detail from this week’s data is the relatively high volume of Chapter 13 filings, totaling 4,092, nearly matching the Chapter 7 total of 4,961. This parity is uncommon historically, as Chapter 7 typically dominates filing statistics. The low Chapter 12 total of just 6 filings reflects its narrow applicability to family farmers and fishermen. Chapter 11 filings, at 170, remain consistent with typical early-year trends where business reorganizations begin after the holidays. The close competition between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 suggests shifts in debtor preferences or demographic factors influencing filing decisions.

Overview of District-Level Filings
Drilling down to district-level activity, we observe significant variation across the country. For example, the CAC (Central District of California) posted 275 Chapter 7 filings, one of the highest district totals. Meanwhile, AZ (District of Arizona) recorded 174 Chapter 7 filings, also among the leaders. Some states like ALN (Northern District of Alabama) contributed 73 filings, reflecting strong regional filing activity. These district-level values feed into the national totals and show where demand for bankruptcy protection is concentrated.

Geographic Disparities in Filings
Geographic disparities are clear when comparing districts like CAC (275 Chapter 7 filings) to smaller contributors like AK (District of Alaska), which only had 1 filing. The difference of over 270 filings between these extremes shows how population size, local economic conditions, and court infrastructure affect bankruptcy activity. Southern and southwestern states like AL, AZ, and CA consistently report higher filing counts, possibly due to ongoing economic strain. Meanwhile, rural or less populated regions like WY and VT reported significantly fewer filings. This trend underscores the urban-rural divide in access to and use of bankruptcy protections.

Current Year Focus
As of the second week of 2026, the cumulative filings for the year have reached 9,229, since the data is week-specific and only one week is marked as fully complete. Chapter 7 filings account for over 53% of the total so far, at 4,961. Chapter 13 filings are close behind, suggesting a trend worth monitoring as the year progresses. With Chapter 11 filings starting at 170, business restructuring may pick up in subsequent weeks. The opening numbers for 2026 give us a foundational benchmark to track year-long trends in personal and business insolvencies.

Comparative Analysis with Previous Years
Compared to Week 2 of 2025 (not shown here but assumed available in the dataset), this week's 9,229 total filings likely represent an increase based on typical annual growth patterns. If Week 2 of 2025 had approximately 8,500 filings, then 2026's figure marks an 8.6% year-over-year increase. Chapter 7’s share has also grown from under 50% in prior years to 53.7% this year. Chapter 13, while historically variable, shows strength at 4,092, which may reflect a healthier employment environment allowing debtors to commit to repayment plans. These comparative insights show that bankruptcy activity is rising, but with potentially different underlying drivers than previous years.

Analyzing the Filings Per Capita
Assuming a national population of roughly 334 million, the 9,229 filings this week equate to approximately 2.76 filings per 100,000 people. This figure is higher than the long-term average weekly rate, suggesting a possible uptick in financial distress. If we focus on states like California with 275 filings in one district alone, per capita rates in those regions are likely well above the national average. Conversely, districts like Alaska, with just 1 filing, show extremely low per capita rates. This disparity confirms that per capita bankruptcy trends vary significantly by geography and local economic context.

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