According to AIS bankruptcy filing data, U.S. bankruptcy filings totaled 52,074 in August 2026, up 8.59% from August 2025 and the highest August total since 2019. June and July both rose against their seasonal patterns. August moved in the opposite direction, falling 4.89% from July in a month that has averaged a 4.33% increase over the past 20 years. Even with the decline, filing activity remained well above where it stood twelve months ago.

August 2026 U.S. Bankruptcy Filings at a Glance

52,074 total August filings  |  +8.59% YoY  |  -4.89% MoM  |  417,463 YTD  |  ~628,000 projected for 2026

Through eight months, 2026 filings total 417,463, running 11.53% above the same period in 2025. The full-year base case remains near 628,000, approximately 11% above 2025.

Chapter 7's share of consumer filings ticked back up to 64.8% in August from 63.6% in July, a modest reversal of the stabilization that emerged in June and July. On the commercial side, Subchapter V filings rose 58.6% year over year, a sharp acceleration from the growth seen in prior months.

Geographically, nine of the top ten states by filing volume grew faster than the 8.59% national rate. Texas led the top ten at 22.0% year over year, followed by Florida at 21.0% and Georgia at 15.2%. New York remained an exception, growing just 4.5% and trailing the national pace for the second consecutive month.

View the August 2026 Bankruptcy InSights Report for the latest filing data and trends, or read our August bankruptcy analysis for additional commentary and economic context.