EU: new businesses drop in the second quarter of 2026 and bankruptcies increase

In the second quarter of 2026, new business registrations in the European Union decreased by 0.5% compared to the first three months of the year, while bankruptcy filings increased by 5.7%.

This was announced by Eurostat.

New registrations fell in five of the eight economic sectors monitored. The sharpest decline was recorded in industry (-3.6%), followed by accommodation and restaurant services (-3.4%) and education and social activities (-3.2%). In contrast, information and communication, with an increase of 8.8%, and construction (+1%).

Financial services stable. Bankruptcies also increased in five out of eight sectors. The largest increases concerned education and social activities (+21.1%), transport (+11.4%) and financial services (+6.8%). Bankruptcy filings decreased in accommodation and food services (-2.6%), construction (-1.7%) and trade (-1.2%).