Total bankruptcy filings in the United States increased 5 percent in November 2015 from November of last year, according to data provided by Epiq Systems, Inc. Bankruptcy filings totaled 65,511 in November 2015, up from the November 2014 total of 62,438. Consumer filings also increased 5 percent to 63,223 from the November 2014 consumer filing total of 60,164. Total commercial filings in November 2015 were 2,288, a 1 percent increase from the 2,274 business filings recorded in November 2014.
Total commercial chapter 11 filings increased 30 percent to 390 filings in November 2015 from the 298 commercial chapter 11 filings registered in November 2014.
“Though November’s filings were up slightly, fewer consumers and businesses are turning to the financial relief of bankruptcy,” said ABI Executive Director Samuel J. Gerdano. “Amid persistently low interest rates and high filing costs, total bankruptcies remain on track for the second-lowest total since BAPCPA was implemented in 2005.”
Total filings for November decreased 7 percent compared to the 70,221 total filings in October 2015. Total noncommercial filings for November also represented a 7 percent decrease from the October 2015 noncommercial filing total of 67,744. November’s commercial filing total represented an 8 percent drop from the October 2015 commercial filing total of 2,477. November commercial chapter 11 filings were also down, decreasing 9 percent from the 428 filings recorded in October 2015.
The average nationwide per capita bankruptcy-filing rate in November was 2.69 (total filings per 1,000 population), a slight decline from the 2.70 rate for the first 10 months of the year. Average total filings per day in November 2015 were 2,184, a 5 percent increase from the 2,081 total daily filings in November 2014. States with the highest per capita filing rates (total filings per 1,000 population) in November 2015 were:
- Tennessee (5.80)
- Alabama (5.41)
- Georgia (5.10)
- Illinois (4.42)
- Utah (4.39)
ABI has partnered with Epiq Systems, Inc. in order to provide the most current bankruptcy filing data for analysts, researchers and members of the news media. Epiq Systems is a leading provider of managed technology for the global legal profession.