Expect More U.S. Corporate Bankruptcies In 2007

Dec. 22, 2006
Research firm predicts 17% increase.

After dipping an estimated 20% in 2006, U.S. corporate bankruptcies will jump by some 17% next year, estimates Global Insight Inc., Waltham, Mass. Most of the increase will occur in metals, mining and energy sectors, as well as in real estate and closely related industries, according to the economic research firm. Within the industrial sector, vulnerable industries named include machine tools, building materials and related chemicals industries, and textiles.

Global Insight says several already high-risk categories could see improvement in 2007. Those include motor vehicles and parts, watches and clocks, and computing hardware.

The greatest improvements in credit quality are expected to outside manufacturing. Those arenas include telecommunications, utilities, insurance, healthcare services.

About the Author

Jill Jusko

Bio: Jill Jusko is executive editor for IndustryWeek. She has been writing about manufacturing operations leadership for more than 20 years. Her coverage spotlights companies that are in pursuit of world-class results in quality, productivity, cost and other benchmarks by implementing the latest continuous improvement and lean/Six-Sigma strategies. Jill also coordinates IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Awards Program, which annually salutes the leading manufacturing facilities in North America. 

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