Are a record number of mom and pops going bankrupt? Kinda but not really

Yes, the number of small businesses that filed for bankruptcy in 2025 increased from 2024. But only by 10

Are mom-and-pop stores going bankrupt at historically high levels? That would seem to be the impression you'd get from recent news reports referencing data released from Epiq Bankruptcy Analytics, a provider of legal services that specializes in bankruptcy services.

Uh-oh! Some have seen this as proof that Donald Trump's policies are bankrupting Main Street. Well, no, not quite.