Economics
Will the total number of US corporate bankruptcy filings (all chapters) in 2026 exceed the total number filed in 2020?
An economics prediction on the continued corporate financial stress post-pandemic, specifically comparing the full-year totals to the last stimulus year.
17 total votes
Analysis
US Corporate Bankruptcies: Exceeding 2020 Levels in 2026
While 2020 saw a high number of large corporate failures, the overall commercial filing total was relatively suppressed (approximately **22,391** business petitions, according to the US Courts) due to massive government stimulus and creditor forbearance. This prediction states that the **total number of US corporate bankruptcy filings in 2026 will exceed the 2020 total.**
The Rate Hike Fallout
The overwhelming **'Yes'** vote is driven by the reality of the US corporate landscape in 2025 (currently seeing a 15-year high in major bankruptcies). The full impact of years of elevated interest rates is now manifesting, hitting companies that must refinance 'pandemic-era' debt. Since stimulus measures are long gone, and the debt maturity wall is highest in 2026, the volume of distressed businesses seeking protection will be significantly higher than the subsidized 2020 environment.