(Source: TAMDAMEDIA.eu) Prague – In the first half of this year, 3,180 entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic went bankrupt, an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year, marking the highest figure since the first half of 2021. This is the result of an analysis provided to ČTK by CRIF – Czech Credit Bureau, based on data from the portal www.informaceofirmach.cz.

In the first six months, the number of bankruptcy petitions filed by entrepreneurs increased faster than the actual number of bankruptcies. Compared to the same period last year, the number of petitions rose by 13% to 3,331. This figure is comparable to 2021 and the highest since 2020, when there were 3,980 petitions. The faster increase in bankruptcy petitions compared to actual bankruptcies indicates that the number of bankruptcies will continue to rise in the coming months, according to CRIF expert Ms. Věra Kameníčková's analysis.

"In June, the number of bankrupt entrepreneurs was over 100 cases higher than the monthly average of last year. This year, every month has recorded over 500 bankruptcies, while last year only May reached this figure. The rate of increase in bankruptcies in the first half of the year was faster than in the preceding 12 months, when the number of bankruptcies increased by 9% compared to the same period," Ms. Kameníčková stated.

June recorded 546 bankrupt entrepreneurs, an increase of 6 compared to May. This was the second-highest figure of the year, after April. At the same time, 567 bankruptcy petitions were filed. Most entrepreneurs went bankrupt in the Moravian-Silesian Region (72 cases), followed by South Moravia (62) and Central Bohemia (58). The Pardubice Region recorded the fewest bankruptcies, with only 19 cases.

Over the past 12 months, the Moravian-Silesian Region also led in the number of bankrupt entrepreneurs, followed by Central Bohemia and Prague. Conversely, the Karlovy Vary Region had the lowest number of bankruptcies. Compared to the previous period, the number of bankruptcies increased fastest in Central Bohemia, while Karlovy Vary saw the sharpest decline.

Similar to May, June saw the highest number of entrepreneur bankruptcies in the construction sector (140 cases), followed by trade (88 cases) and manufacturing (83 cases). Over the past 12 months, the order of sectors remained the same. Compared to the previous period, bankruptcies increased most significantly in the financial and insurance sector (up 22%), cultural and entertainment activities (up 20%), and administrative and support activities (up 18%). In the trade sector – which has the largest number of registered entrepreneurs – bankruptcies increased by 15%.

Conversely, the health and social care sector recorded the sharpest decline in bankruptcies, down 60% compared to the previous period. The electricity, gas, and heat production and distribution sector also saw a one-third reduction in bankruptcies.

According to ČTK