A majority of respondents in a recent American Bankruptcy Institute Quick Poll believe that business bankruptcy filings will increase by more than 10% in 2012. 68% agree (31% “strongly agreed” and 37% “somewhat agreed”) that business filings will increase by more than 10% this year. Twenty-five respondents to the current poll disagree (7% “strongly disagreed” and 18% “somewhat disagreed”) that business filings will increase more than 10% in 2012. Five percent “did not know or had no opinion” on the question.

Total commercial filings for calendar year 2011 fell to 74,142, representing a 19% decline from the 92,070 business filings recorded in 2010, according to data from Epiq Systems, Inc.
 
However, the fallout from the recent recession continues to take a toll on U.S. businesses as access to credit remains tight and debt levels are elevated.

ABI’s Quick Poll is posted on ABI’s home page, www.abiworld.org. ABI members and the public are invited to respond to a question on a timely bankruptcy or insolvency issue. Visit http://www.abiworld.net/quickpoll/ to access the results of previous ABI Quick Polls.