Chicago drivers endured the nation's most severe traffic jams in 2025, losing an average of 112 hours annually to congestion—equivalent to more than four full workdays and costing commuters about $2,063 in lost productivity. This marked a 10% increase from 2024, overtaking New York City for the top spot, according to INRIX's 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard released last week.
The report, which analyzed travel data from nearly 1,000 cities across 37 countries, highlighted a broader U.S. trend: the typical driver wasted 49 hours in traffic, up from 43 hours the previous year, contributing to a national economic hit of $85 billion.
New York City ranked second, with unchanged delays of 102 hours per driver ($1,800 cost), while Philadelphia climbed to third amid a 31% surge in congestion. Baltimore experienced the steepest year-over-year jump at 31%, landing in 13th place. The scorecard attributed rising delays to post-pandemic shifts, including a return to office work and increased weekend leisure trips to urban cores—evident in cities like Houston (up 25% in downtown traffic) and Dallas (up 12%). Ten U.S. cities cracked the global top 25 for worst congestion, underscoring America's ongoing urban mobility challenges despite some international hotspots like Istanbul (105 hours lost) leading worldwide.
The report warns that without smarter infrastructure, such as data-driven signal optimization and expanded public transit, costs could escalate further.