Total U.S. bankruptcy filings in April 2021 increased 6 percent from the previous year, according to data provided by Epiq. Bankruptcy filings totaled 40,911 in April 2021, up from the April 2020 total of 38,459, when filings sharply declined in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 38,833 consumer bankruptcy filings in April 2021 were a 7 percent increase from the April 2020 consumer total of 36,156. Total commercial filings decreased 10 percent in April 2021, as the 2,078 filings were down from the 2,303 commercial filings registered in April 2020. Total commercial chapter 11 filings experienced the largest decline, as the 287 filings dropped 49 percent in April 2021 from the 567 commercial chapter 11 filings in April 2020.
 
“Massive stabilization efforts by the government, continued low interest rates and leniency by many lenders have helped lay the foundation for an economic recovery, but growing debt loads and financial uncertainty remain for many families and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said ABI Executive Director Amy Quackenboss. “Bankruptcy provides a proven shield to struggling households and small businesses facing overwhelming financial distress.”
 
April’s total bankruptcy filings represented a 6 percent decrease when compared to the 43,449 total filings recorded the previous month. Total noncommercial filings for April also represented a 6 percent decrease from the March 2021 noncommercial filing total of 41,156. The commercial filing total represented a 9 percent decrease from the March 2021 commercial filing total of 2,293. Commercial chapter 11 filings decreased 26 percent from the 386 filings in March 2021.
 
The average nationwide per capita bankruptcy filing rate in April was 1.43 (total filings per 1,000 population), a slight increase from the 1.38 filing rate during the first three months of the year. Average total filings per day in April 2021 were 1,860, a 6 percent increase from the 1,748 total daily filings in April 2020. States with the highest per capita filing rates (total filings per 1,000 population) in April 2021 were:
 
1. Alabama (3.33)
2. Nevada (2.99)
3. Delaware (2.64)
4. Tennessee (2.61)
5. Kentucky (2.26)
 
ABI has partnered with Epiq in order to provide the most current bankruptcy filing data for analysts, researchers and members of the news media. Epiq is a leading provider of managed technology for the global legal profession. To view the full monthly statistical tables provided by Epiq, be sure to visit ABI’s Newsroom.