Democracy Dies in Darkness

Bankruptcies soar as companies grapple with inflation, tariffs

Businesses in vulnerable sectors found themselves caught between rising tariffs and beleaguered consumers.

7 min
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Spirit Airlines, Claire's and Rite Aid were among the more than 700 companies that filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. this year. Rite Aid has since ceased operations. (Photos by Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images; Justin Sullivan & Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, rivaling levels not seen since the immediate aftermath of the Great Recession, as import-dependent businesses absorbed the highest tariffs in decades.

At least 717 companies filed for bankruptcy through November, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. That’s roughly 14 percent more than the same 11 months of 2024, and the highest tally since 2010.

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Aaron Gregg is a business reporter for the Washington Post.@Post_AG
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Jaclyn Peiser covers retail for The Washington Post. She previously worked overnight on The Post's Morning Mix team and covered the media industry for the New York Times. @jackiepeiser
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