NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Total bankruptcy filings in October 2025 were 53,019, a twelve percent increase from the October 2024 total of 47,135, according to data provided by Epiq AACER, the leading provider of US bankruptcy filing data.
Overall, commercial filings increased seven percent to 2,820 in October 2025, up from the 2,628 commercial filings registered in October 2024. There were 634 commercial Chapter 11 filings registered in October 2025, up eleven percent from the 571 filings registered in October 2024. Small business filings, captured as subchapter V elections within Chapter 11, totaled 248 in October 2025. This represents a thirty-five percent increase from the 184 filings in October 2024.
“Small business bankruptcy and overall consumer filings show strong increases in October as expected,” said Michael Hunter, Vice President, Epiq AACER. “Given the student loan repayment and collection activities, along with a high recidivism rate, particularly within the FHA mortgage portfolio, I anticipate a continued increase through the remainder of this year and 2026. Higher interest rates, increased costs, and overall household debt levels indicate a continued demand for both consumers and businesses to seek bankruptcy protection.”
Individual bankruptcy filings totaled 50,199 in October 2025, representing a thirteen percent increase from the 44,507 filings in October 2024. There were 31,078 individual Chapter 7 filings in October 2025, a fourteen percent increase over the 27,350 filings recorded in October 2024. 19,007 individual Chapter 13 filings in October 2025 represent an eleven percent increase over the 17,087 filings in October 2024.
“Persistent economic headwinds, including higher prices, tighter lending conditions, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, continue to weigh on financially distressed consumers and businesses,” said Amy Quackenboss, Executive Director, ABI. “Bankruptcy remains an indispensable tool to help debt-burdened families and businesses achieve a financial fresh start.”
October’s total bankruptcy filings represented an eight percent increase when compared to the 49,192 total filings recorded in September. Total individual filings, individual Chapter 7s, and individual Chapter 13s for October also represent an eight percent increase from September 2025. Commercial filings increased one percent from September’s commercial filing total of 2,796. Subchapter V elections within Chapter 11 increased sixteen percent from the 213 filed in September 2025. Conversely, the commercial Chapter 11 filing total decreased seventeen percent from the September 2025 filing total of 768. Although the September total was skewed by the related filings of two large cases.
Epiq AACER is a division of Epiq and the leading provider of data, technology, and services for companies operating in the bankruptcy industry. The Bankruptcy Analytics subscription service provides on-demand access to the industry’s most dynamic bankruptcy data, updated daily. Learn more at https://bankruptcy.epiqglobal.com.
About Epiq
Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporations, law firms, and the courts by integrating people, process, technology, and data intelligence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal, compliance, settlement, and business administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 17 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how Epiq and its 6,100 people worldwide create meaningful change at www.epiqglobal.com.
About ABI
ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 10,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abi.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abi.org/calendar-of-events.
Press Contacts
John Lute
Senior Director, Marketing, Epiq
John.Lute@epiqglobal.com
John Hartgen
ABI, Public Affairs Officer
jhartgen@abi.org
