Bankruptcy filings are significantly down in the U.S. this year, compared to last. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, total bankruptcy filings were 42% lower in May 2020 than they were in May 2019, even as commercial Chapter 11 filings increased 48%.
Consumer bankruptcies were down 43% from the same time last year, but up 3% from April 2020.
| Type of filing | May 2019 filings | May 2020 filings | Change from May 2019 to May 2020 | April 2020 filings | Change from April 2020 to May 2020 |
| Commercial Ch. 11 | 487 | 722 | +48% | 562 | +29% |
| All commercial filings | 3,558 | 2,578 | -28% | 2,293 | +12% |
| Consumer filings | 65,302 | 37,391 | -43% | 36,151 | +3% |
| All filings | 68,860 | 39,969 | -42% | 38,444 | +4% |
Source: American Bankruptcy Institute
States with highest per capita filing rates in May 2020:
- Alabama (4.66 filings per 1,000 population)
- Tennessee (4.05)
- Delaware (3.9)
- Mississippi (3.64)
- Georgia (3.45)
