Big Bankruptcies Pile Up as Grab Bag of Stressors Takes Hold

Borrowing costs have surged. Goods can’t get from factory to retail floor fast enough. Investors have lost their appetite for money-losing startups.

Those are some of the factors that made June the busiest month for large corporate bankruptcies since March 2021, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Those that succumbed -- 13 in total -- ranged from a nearly century-old beauty company to an ex-SPAC that went public less than a year ago.

The situation looks likely to get worse before it gets better. The Federal Reserve’s bid to fight widespread inflation by raising interest rates is making it harder ...