US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (2024)

US corporate bankruptcy filings rose again in December 2023, closing out a year with the most filings since 2010.

S&P Global Market Intelligence recorded 50 bankruptcy filings in the month. The total was up from a revised 33 recorded in November, but roughly in line with the monthly average of just under 54 bankruptcies for 2023.

There were 642 total filings in 2023, significantly above the previous two years and marginally more than in 2020, which saw a flurry of COVID-19 pandemic-related filings. Although investors expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates as early as March, companies will still have to contend with relatively high interest rates and robust wage growth in the near term.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (1)

Notable filings

Amid persisting challenges in the commercial real estate sector, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust filed for bankruptcy Dec. 10. The real estate investment trust, which has a portfolio largely consisting of shopping centers on the East Coast, said inflation and rising interest rates had negatively impacted the company's post-pandemic operating conditions.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (2)

Electric scooter and bike provider Bird Global Inc. also sought bankruptcy protection Dec. 20, to achieve profitability. The company operates in 350 cities globally; its Canadian and European operations were not affected by the filing.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust was the only company with more than $1 billion in liabilities to file for bankruptcy in December, bringing the total number of such filings for 2023 to 22. One of those larger filings, Diamond Sports Group LLC, continues to play out in court while the company renegotiates broadcast agreements and seeks to fend off liquidation.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (3)

Sector breakdown

Seven industrials companies and seven consumer discretionary companies filed for bankruptcy over the month, followed by six filings among information technology companies and six from the healthcare sector. Consumer discretionary companies recorded the most bankruptcies in 2023 with 82 filings.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (4)– Download the charts in Excel format.
– Check out the monthly Retail Market series for retail-specific bankruptcy data.

Bankruptcies among consumer discretionary, industrials and healthcare companies far outpaced all other sectors on an annual basis.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (5)

Leading states

There were bankruptcy filings in 19 states and the District of Columbia in December, with the greatest number originating from California, Texas and Florida.

During the year, 95 California companies sought bankruptcy protection, followed by 75 from Texas and 68 from Florida. New York added 58 filings in 2023, while New Jersey registered 31.

Additional states with 15 or more filings in 2023 included Massachusetts, Georgia, Nevada, Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (6)

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (7)

This Data Dispatch is updated regularly. The last edition was published Dec. 8, 2023.

Bankruptcy figures include public companies or private companies with public debt with a minimum of $2 million in assets or liabilities at the time of filing, in addition to private companies with at least $10 million in assets or liabilities. S&P Global Market Intelligence may remove companies from this list if it discovers that their total assets and liabilities do not meet the threshold requirement for inclusion.

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (8)

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December (2024)

FAQs

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December? ›

US bankruptcies hit 13-year peak in 2023; 50 new filings in December. US corporate bankruptcy filings rose again in December 2023, closing out a year with the most filings since 2010. S&P Global Market Intelligence recorded 50 bankruptcy filings in the month.

Are US bankruptcies increasing? ›

Bankruptcy filings rose 16 percent during the 12-month period ending March 31, 2024. That is a similar rate of acceleration as in the Dec.

What is the biggest cause of bankruptcies in the United States? ›

Common reasons that people file for bankruptcy include loss of income, high medical expenses, an unaffordable mortgage, spending beyond their means, or lending money to loved ones. Often, bankruptcy is a result of several of these factors combined.

Where are the most bankruptcies filed? ›

Delaware ranks as the state with the highest number of business bankruptcy filings (1,912 per 100,000 businesses), while South Dakota experienced the fewest filings (39 per 100,000 businesses). Alabama has the highest rate of personal bankruptcies, with 349 filings per 100,000 residents.

How many bankruptcies last year? ›

With more than 39 million residents, California is the most populous state in America. It also has the highest number of bankruptcy filings in the nation. There were 30,973 bankruptcy cases filed in the state in 2022.

Are bankruptcies increasing in 2024? ›

US bankruptcies surged 18% in 2023 and seen rising again in 2024 -report.

Why are corporate bankruptcies on the rise? ›

Rising interest rates, high debt loads and inflation pushed a growing number of firms to the brink.

What is the fastest growing group to go bankruptcies? ›

In fact, a recent study by the University of Michigan found that baby boomers are the fastest growing age group filing for bankruptcy. And even for those who have not yet filed for bankruptcy, a lack of retirement savings greatly troubles many who face their final years with fear and uncertainty.

What are the two most common bankruptcies? ›

The most common types of bankruptcy are chapter 7, which are liquidating bankruptcy, and chapter 13 cases, often used by individuals who want to catch up on past due mortgage or car loan payments and keep their assets.

Are bankruptcies public record in the USA? ›

Yes, bankruptcies are considered public record. Anyone may call the court and verify if you have filed bankruptcy. Online access to bankruptcy records is available for a fee to persons who have a PACER login and password. Social security numbers are protected.

Are bankruptcies skyrocketing? ›

Non-business bankruptcy filings rose 16 percent to 434,064, compared with 374,240 in December 2022. Bankruptcy totals for the previous 12 months are reported four times annually. This is the fourth straight quarter that total bankruptcy filings have risen, following a decade-plus decline.

Who ends up paying for bankruptcies? ›

When an individual files for bankruptcy, they are typically responsible for paying the costs of the bankruptcy process. The cost of filing for bankruptcy can vary depending on several factors, including the type of bankruptcy, the complexity of the case, and the location of the bankruptcy court.

What is the average age to file bankruptcies? ›

A study by Harvard Law School showed that two out of three people in bankruptcy have lost their job and half have experienced a serious health problem. Thirty percent of bankruptcies are filed by women filing alone and the average age of bankruptcy filers is 38.

Who has the largest bankruptcies worldwide? ›

2023's Major Failures
CompanyFRISK® ScoreAssets (USD, Billions)
China Evergrande Group1$257.4
Sunac China Holdings Limited3$152.6
Casino Guichard Perranchon SA1$24.8
WeWork Inc.1$15.0
6 more rows
Feb 13, 2024

What are the largest US bankruptcies by total assets? ›

As of February 2024, the largest all-time bankruptcy in the United States remained Lehman Brothers. The New York-based investment bank had assets worth 691 billion U.S. dollars when it filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008.

Can the US declare bankruptcies? ›

Anderson is correct that federal bankruptcy law does not allow states to declare bankruptcy.

How long does bankruptcies last us? ›

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy may stay on credit reports for up to 10 years from the filing date, while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy generally remains for seven years from the filing date.

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