Total U.S. bankruptcy filings increased 5 percent in January 2017 from the same period last year, according to data provided by Epiq Systems, Inc. Bankruptcy filings totaled 55,212 in January 2017, up from the January 2016 total of 52,560. With the total filings in both December 2016 and January 2017 increasing 5 percent over the previous year, total bankruptcies registered back-to-back monthly gains for the first time since 2010. Consumer filings also increased 5 percent in January 2017 to 52,421 from the January 2016 consumer filing total of 49,733. Total commercial filings decreased slightly in January 2017 to 2,791, representing a 1 percent decrease from the 2,827 business filings recorded in January 2016. The 398 total commercial chapter 11 filings in January 2017 represented a decrease of 19 percent from January 2016’s total of 494.
