by Calculated Risk on 2/08/2023 04:25:00 PM

From the U.S. Courts: Bankruptcy Filings Drop 6.3 Percent

Bankruptcy filings fell 6.3 percent for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2022, continuing a fall that coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But individual filings under Chapter 13 increased significantly.

Annual bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2022 totaled 387,721, compared with 413,616 cases in 2021, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Business filings fell 6 percent, from 14,347 to 13,481 in the year ending Dec. 31, 2022. Non-business bankruptcy filings fell 6.3 percent, to 374,240, compared with 399,269 in the previous year.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the business and non-business bankruptcy filings by calendar year since 1997.

The sharp decline in 2006 was due to the so-called "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005". (a good example of Orwellian named legislation since this was more a "Lender Protection Act").