Number of bankruptcies continues to increase in October

In the first ten months of 2022, the number of corporate bankruptcies was over 10 percent higher than in the same period of 2021. Last year, the number of bankruptcies was historically low.

Number of bankruptcies low

The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, fluctuates significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (911); it subsequently declined continuously until August 2017 inclusive, after which it remained fairly stable until mid-2020. It then followed a downward trend again, reaching its lowest level since the start of the time series (January 1981) in August 2021. In the past few months, the number of bankruptcies rose to its highest level since August 2020, but was still low compared to the period before the outbreak of coronavirus.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, in October a total of 204 businesses and institutions were declared bankrupt. The trade sector suffered most with 32 bankruptcies; the same number as in September.

The trade sector is one of the sectors with the largest number of businesses. In October, relatively the highest number of bankruptcies was pronounced in manufacturing.