Corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, climbing to levels not seen since the aftermath of the Great Recession, as companies struggled to absorb inflation, rising interest rates, and the highest tariffs in decades, The Washington Post reports. "These companies are acutely aware of the affordability crisis confronting the average American," said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale University's School of Management. "They are doing their best to offset the cost of tariffs and higher interest rates but can only do so much." At least 717 companies filed for bankruptcy through November, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence — about 14% more than during the same period in 2024 and the highest total since 2010.

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.

Large U.S. corporate bankruptcies are on pace to hit their highest level in 15 years, S&P Global data showed on Thursday, underscoring mounting stress across corporate America at a sensitive time for public market investors. Total bankruptcy filings reached 655 this year through October, compared with 687 for all of 2024. October alone accounted for 68 filings, following 76 in August — the highest monthly count since at least 2020.

Corporate bankruptcies surged in 2025, climbing to levels not seen since the aftermath of the Great Recession, as companies struggled to absorb inflation, rising interest rates, and the highest tariffs in decades, The Washington Post reports. "These companies are acutely aware of the affordability crisis confronting the average American," said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale University's School of Management. "They are doing their best to offset the cost of tariffs and higher interest rates but can only do so much."

The United States pledged $2 billion in United Nations humanitarian assistance Monday, as part of a deal aimed at streamlining the way international aid is distributed. In Geneva, the U.S. State Department and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) signed a memorandum of understanding, creating a new umbrella fund from which OCHA can funnel U.S. and other aid to individual U.N. agencies, rather than U.S. contributions going to scattered appeals for aid.