During the week from 14 to 20 December included (week 51), the business courts pronounced 180 bankruptcies. This number of bankruptcies is the highest since week 39 (21/09 - 27/09). Every year, the number of bankruptcies reaches a peak in week 51. This calendar effect therefore also occurs in 2020. These bankruptcies resulted in a total of 315 job losses, i.e. an increase compared to the previous week. Both the number of bankruptcies and of job losses have increased compared to those of week 50.
During the first 51 weeks of 2020, the business courts pronounced a total of 7,089 bankruptcies. This number is lower than that of the same period in 2018 (-27.8 %) and 2019 (-32.3 %). These 7,089 bankruptcies resulted in a total of 17,087 job losses. The ratio of job losses per bankruptcy therefore amounts to 2.41. This figure is higher than that of the same period in 2018 (1.74) and 2019 (1.92). So there were fewer bankruptcies in 2020, but comparatively more job losses per bankruptcy.
Evolution of the number of bankruptcies and job losses per year until week 51 of the year
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2020/2019 | 2020/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bancruptcies | 9,818 | 10,471 | 7,089 | -32.30% | -27.80% |
| Job losses | 17,096 | 20,148 | 17,087 | -15.19% | -0.05% |
| Job losses/Bancruptcies | 1.74 | 1.92 | 2.41 | +25.27% | +38.42% |
This is what emerged from the weekly bankruptcy figures produced by Statbel based on the orders of business courts. These interim weekly estimates make it possible to quickly observe the first trends.