US Companies’ Chapter 11 Bankruptcies Jump 20 Percent: Report

Inflation, elevated interest rates, and geopolitical tensions have weighed on businesses.

An arrow points the way to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York in New York City on Jan. 9, 2020. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

More companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March than a year ago, indicating economic stress among U.S. businesses, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).

“Commercial Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings increased 20 percent in March 2025, with filings climbing to 733 from the 611 filings registered in March 2024,” the ABI said in an April 3 statement. Small-business filings fell by 1 percent year over year, while total commercial filings rose by 10 percent.