S&P Global Market Intelligence counted 372 large U.S. corporate bankruptcy filings in the first six months of 2026, already the highest midyear total in at least 16 years.
Higher interest rates, more selective consumer spending and years of rising costs have made the economy less forgiving, leaving weaker business models more exposed.
Small-business bankruptcies also climbed 50% from a year earlier, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute, showing the strain extends beyond large corporations.
AI is emerging as one response: a study of 5,000 customer-service agents found a 15% gain in problems resolved per hour, while 758 BCG consultants completed AI-suited tasks more than 25% faster.
The figures suggest a widening split between companies that can use AI to cut costs and raise productivity and those that cannot adapt quickly enough.