More Than 700 US Companies Went Bankrupt In 2025 — A 14% Jump From 2024

More than 700 US companies did file for bankruptcy in 2025, and the 14% jump from 2024 refers specifically to large corporate Chapter 7 and 11 cases tracked by S&P Global Market Intelligence through November.​

What the headline refers to

• S&P Global data show at least 717 U.S. companies filed for Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy from January through November 2025.​

• That total is a 14% increase over the comparable period in 2024 and is already the highest annual count for large corporate bankruptcies since 2010.​

Type and size of companies

• The figures cover large companies: public firms or private firms above asset/liability thresholds (typically at least $2$–$10$ million dollars).​

• Many of these cases are reorganizations rather than liquidations; in the first half of 2025, about 61% of tracked corporate filings sought to restructure rather than shut down.​

Economic context and causes

• Analysts link the increase to higher interest rates, lingering inflation, and weaker consumer demand, which raise borrowing costs and squeeze margins.​

• Additional pressure in 2025 came from President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade policies, which disrupted supply chains and increased input costs, particularly for industrial and manufacturing firms.​

Which sectors were hit hardest

• Industrials (construction, manufacturing, transportation) recorded the most large corporate bankruptcies, with around 100–110 filings through late 2025.​

• Consumer discretionary (nonessential retail, home furnishings, fashion) and healthcare were also major contributors to the totals.​

How this compares historically

• The 2025 pace for large corporate bankruptcies is the highest since 2010, when the economy was still recovering from the Great Recession.​

• Broader U.S. bankruptcy statistics (including consumers and small businesses) also show year‑over‑year increases in 2025, though not all categories are up as sharply as large corporate cases.​