Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change
Year-over-year change in 12-month bankruptcy filings, all chapters
Where the Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change stands now
The Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change was 11.4% in the third quarter of 2026, down from the 14.2% peak in the fourth quarter of 2024. It has been higher than a year earlier for two quarters in a row, though it dipped from the second quarter of 2026.
What it means for households: Bankruptcy Statistics Behind on payments? Bankruptcy: What to Know
How the Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change has moved since 2024
Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change: up since 2025
Percent change in 12-month bankruptcy case totals from the same 12 months a year earlier, U.S. Courts Table F-2: 11.4% in the third quarter of 2026, up from 10.6% a year earlier. Quarterly, 2024–2026.
What the Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change measures
Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change by quarter, 2024 to 2026
| Quarter | Rate (%) | Change from a year earlier (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 11.4 | +0.8 |
| Q2 2026 | 12.2 | +0.7 |
| Q1 2026 | 11.9 | −1.2 |
| Q4 2025 | 11.0 | −3.2 |
| Q3 2025 | 10.6 | — |
| Q2 2025 | 11.5 | — |
| Q1 2025 | 13.1 | — |
| Q4 2024 | 14.2 | — |
Quarterly · Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Counties with the highest default and legal scores
There's no county figure for this measure, so this list uses the default and legal part of our County Distress Index.
| Rank | County | Score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chambers County, AL | 99.9 |
| 2 | Shelby County, TN | 99.8 |
| 3 | Houston County, AL | 99.7 |
| 4 | Tift County, GA | 99.6 |
| 5 | Montgomery County, AL | 99.5 |
| 6 | Panola County, MS | 99.5 |
| 7 | Dale County, AL | 99.5 |
| 8 | Union Parish, LA | 99.4 |
| 9 | Morehouse Parish, LA | 99.3 |
| 10 | Letcher County, KY | 99.3 |
Questions about bankruptcy filings
How much have bankruptcy filings changed?
The Courts' 12-month total through the third quarter of 2026 was 11.4% higher than a year earlier, up from 10.6% in the third quarter of 2025. Each figure compares a full 12 months of filings with the same 12 months a year earlier, not a single quarter.
Is this the number of people who filed for bankruptcy?
No. The Courts count cases, not people. A married couple can file one joint petition, and the total includes business cases filed by corporations and partnerships. The Courts report nonbusiness filings separately.
Why did bankruptcy filings change?
The court statistics do not say. The Courts' releases report counts and percent changes and state no cause. Explanations in the news come from commentators, not from this data, and the count alone does not establish why people filed.
Where does bankruptcy filing data come from?
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts publishes Table F-2 each quarter, with 12-month filing totals by chapter and district for periods ending March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31. There is no fixed release calendar. Private counts, such as Epiq AACER's, cover calendar months and differ from the Courts' figures.
Sources and method for the Bankruptcy Filings YoY Change
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts We use the quarterly figures as published, from the fourth quarter of 2024 through the third quarter of 2026, with no adjustment of our own. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’s report
We write with assistance from AI tools. Figures come from the data and sources named on this page.