More bankruptcies

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that, adjusted for court session days, the number of bankruptcies rose by 47 in October 2015 relative to September. The number of bankruptcies increased notably in the sectors construction and hotels and restaurants.

Downward trend

The number of bankruptcies adjusted for court session days peaked in May 2013 and in August  2015 dipped to the lowest level since October 2008. In October, the number of businesses declared bankrupt grew by 47 relative to September. This growth comes after a very modest increase in September, but it is premature to conclude that the increase in bankruptcies during the past 2 months has a structural effect on the overall trend.

Most bankruptcies in trade sector

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 366 businesses and institutions (excluding one-man businesses) were declared bankrupt in October 2015, resulting in a total of 4,399 bankruptcies over the first 10 months of this year, i.e. 22 percent down from the same period last year.

With a total of 82, the trade sector had the highest number of bankruptcies. The sector financial institutions accounted for 59 bankruptcies. These two sectors also include the highest number of businesses. In relative terms, the construction sector recorded the highest number of bankruptcies (56).