In the 12 months prior to June 30, 2026, reports found that bankruptcy filings went up by a full 12.2%. This does not mean they have reached historic highs, but it is a stark departure from the trend of the last decade, when bankruptcy filings were on the decline. For each quarter, bankruptcy totals have increased.
The overall statistics indicate that there were 608,511 bankruptcy cases over that time. In the year prior, which ended on June 30, 2025, reports showed that there were 542,529 bankruptcy cases.
There is some difference between commercial filings and non-commercial filings. Non-business bankruptcies went up by about 12%, but business filings saw an even greater rate of change. Over the same time period, they rose by 16.9%.
There were far more personal bankruptcy filings on the whole, as there were only 26,941 business bankruptcy filings, but the rate of change is still notable. It shows that financial stress is impacting consumers and businesses alike.
What are your bankruptcy options?
If you have been considering bankruptcy, the type of filing you use helps to determine what options you have and how the process works.
For instance, consumers often use Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Commercial clients often use Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It often depends on whether you want to reorganize your debt into a repayment plan or if you are looking to liquidate assets and eliminate remaining debts.
No matter what your situation looks like, it is clear that bankruptcies are becoming more common in the United States, so it is good to be aware of your legal options.