Total bankruptcy filings during calendar year 2018 (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) decreased 2 percent from 2017, according to data provided by Epiq Systems, Inc. Total filings fell from 766,761 in 2017 to 755,182 filings during calendar year 2018. Total consumer filings also decreased to 717,360 nationwide for calendar year 2018 (Jan. 1-Dec. 31), 2 percent less than the 728,299 total filings during 2017. The 37,822 total commercial filings during calendar year 2018 also slipped 2 percent from the commercial filing total of 38,462 during calendar year 2017. The commercial chapter 11 filing total of 5,470 during calendar year 2018 represented a 5 percent drop from the 5,762 commercial chapter 11 filings in 2017. During the current federal government shutdown, courts remain open to those needing to file for bankruptcy.
