US bankruptcy filings rose 11% in first nine months of 2026, data shows
In brief
- U.S. bankruptcy filings rose 11% in the first nine months of 2026, per Epiq AACER data.
- Individual filings rose 7%; no commercial filings figure was given.
- Borrowing costs, household expenses and economic uncertainty were cited in reports as drivers of the rise.
- Total filings remain below 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
What the data shows
The breakdown is thin. According to Crypto Briefing's report, the Epiq AACER figures show individual filings rose by 7%. The outlet said commercial filings "also saw a similar increase" but didn't give a number for them.
That leaves a gap. If individual filings rose 7% and commercial filings moved by a "similar" amount, it's hard to see how the total reaches 11%, and the report doesn't include the underlying counts that would settle it. For now the 11% figure is the one that's actually reported, and the split between individual and commercial filings should be read loosely.
What's behind it, according to the report
Crypto Briefing attributed the rise to higher borrowing costs, rising household expenses and ongoing economic uncertainty. Those explanations come from the reporting (the data itself counts filings and doesn't assign causes).
It's also worth keeping the trend in context. Filings are climbing, but they haven't returned to where they were before the pandemic:
Despite this uptick, the total number of bankruptcy filings remains below pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
An 11% rise is a meaningful move, but it doesn't take filings back to 2019 levels.
The prediction-market angle
Crypto Briefing also pointed to a slight increase in the prediction-market implied probability of NuScale Power declaring bankruptcy by the end of 2027. It didn't name the market or give a figure, so readers can't check the pricing it described. The outlet presented that pricing as a sign of broader economic worries that may affect companies, including those in the energy sector. That's the outlet's interpretation of market sentiment. It isn't a finding about NuScale's finances, and the report offered no data on the company itself.
Frequently asked questions
Are US bankruptcy filings back to pre-pandemic levels in 2026?
No. Filings rose 11% in the first nine months of 2026, according to Epiq AACER data cited by the American Bankruptcy Institute. Crypto Briefing reported that total filings still sit below the pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
What is driving the rise in US bankruptcy filings?
Crypto Briefing, citing Zero Hedge, attributed the 11% rise to higher borrowing costs, rising household expenses and ongoing economic uncertainty. Those causes come from the reporting. The underlying Epiq AACER data counts filings and doesn't explain why they happened.
