Total bankruptcy filings were 276,126 during the first six months of 2025, a 10% increase from the 251,069 total filings during the same period a year ago, according to data provided by Epiq AACER, the leading provider of U.S. bankruptcy filing data.
Total individual filings registered an 11% increase, as the 260,938 filings during the first half of 2025 were up from the 235,849 filings during the first six months of 2024. Individual chapter 7 filings climbed to 163,219 during the first half of 2025, an increase of 15% over the 141,566 chapter 7 filings in the first half of 2024. The 97,125 individual chapter 13s filed in the first six months of 2025 represent a 3% increase over the 93,870 filings during the same period in 2024.
“The strong 15% increase in individual Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings underscores the growing financial pressure facing American households,” said Michael Hunter, vice president of Epiq AACER. “Elevated interest rates, record-high credit card and household debt and the resumption of student loan repayments and collections are all contributing factors driving more individuals to seek bankruptcy protection.”
“As of April 2025, the student loan delinquency rate has more than tripled compared to pre-pandemic levels,” Hunter added. “With collections resuming this year and nearly 9 million loans currently delinquent, we anticipate the upward trend in individual filings to continue.”
Overall commercial filings registered 15,188 for the first half of 2025, representing a slight decrease from the commercial filing total of 15,220 for the first half of 2024. The 3,576 total commercial chapter 11 bankruptcies filed during the first six months of 2025 represented a 15% decrease from the 4,205 filed during the same period in 2024. Small business filings, captured as subchapter V elections within chapter 11, totaled 1,183 in the first six months of 2025, a 4% decrease from the 1,234 elections during the same period in 2024.
Total and consumer bankruptcy filings increased comparing the figures from June 2025 to June 2024, while commercial filing categories declined. Total filings in June 2025 were 46,226, representing a 15% increase from the 40,293 filed in 2024. Total individual filings were up 16 percent in June 2025 to 43,655 from 37,512. The 27,219 individual chapter 7s in June 2025 grew 23% over the 22,183 chapter 7 filings in June 2024, and individual chapter 13s increased 7% to 16,316 in June 2025 from the 15,232 in June 2024.
“Elevated prices, increased borrowing costs and uncertain geopolitical events continue to add to the growing debt loads shouldered by financially distressed families and small businesses,” said ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss. “ABI looks forward to providing Congress with research, information and statistics to re-establish higher debt thresholds for subchapter V and chapter 13 to provide greater access for struggling small businesses and consumers to reorganize their finances.”
Overall commercial filings decreased 8% in June 2025, as the 2,571 filings were down from the 2,781 commercial filings registered in June 2024. The 622 commercial chapter 11 filings in June represented a 38 percent decrease from the 996 filings in June 2024. Total subchapter V elections within chapter 11 experienced a 23% decrease from 277 in June 2024 to 214 in June 2025.