Poland records surge in consumer bankruptcies in first half of 2026

In the first six months of 2026, 12,200 Polish consumers filed for personal bankruptcy, the highest half‑year total on record. Creditors faced losses of about 297 million zł. The rise follows a previous half‑year total of 9,837 filings in 2025 and reflects a continued fallout from the inflation shock of 2022‑2024, high interest rates and depleted household savings.

Economist Anna Zabrodzka‑Averianov of Intrum Poland notes that although inflation fell sharply to 3 % year‑on‑year in July 2026, many families have not yet recovered financially, and higher living costs—exacerbated by global energy market turbulence linked to the conflict in Iran—have intensified debt pressures. The increase is not driven by new legislation; rather, it stems from lingering effects of earlier price spikes and credit‑rate hikes.

Data from the Centralny Ośrodek Informacji Gospodarczej (COIG) and the Krajowy Rejestr Długów (KRD) show that nearly half of the debtors had been listed in the debt register for three years before filing. While median wages rose 8.2 % in January and consumer‑price inflation eased to 2.5 % in June, the number of bankruptcies did not decline. KRD president Adam Łącki stresses that bankruptcy does not automatically erase all obligations, noting that arrears such as unpaid alimony remain enforceable.