Bankruptcy filings across the US are rising fast, a bad sign for people already stretched by bills and debt, and a warning for investors that the economy is weaker than official numbers suggest.

• Personal and business bankruptcies rose 11% in the first nine months of 2026, topping 460,000 filings.
• The causes are plain: higher borrowing costs, rising living costs, more missed payments, and a weaker job market.
• Politicians keep calling the economy strong, and last year's change to how inflation is measured made the official numbers look better than they feel.
• Private equity funds are blocking withdrawals because too many wealthy investors are trying to pull their money out at once.

Outlook: Double-digit bankruptcy growth tends to get Wall Street's attention, so expect more pressure on asset prices and better buying opportunities for anyone holding cash.