Rapid Increase in Defaults at the Start of 2026
Corporate failures surged by 12% at the start of 2026, according to Coface. This increase is primarily driven by North America, where bankruptcies have risen by 22%, serving as the main driver of the global hike. This acceleration highlights the extent and speed of the deterioration in the economic environment for businesses, which are confronted with high costs, increasingly pressured margins, and uncertain demand that is tending to slow down.
Coface attributes this trend to recent geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, whose effects are manifested concretely in rising supply costs, increased energy price volatility, and heightened uncertainty affecting business…