The Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) has released its latest Vital Statistics Report, providing a look at jewelry industry trends through the third quarter of 2026, including business activity, collection claims, closures and bankruptcies.
Collection claims placed with JBT increased sharply through the first nine months of 2026, highlighting the value of proactive credit management. The latest figures also reveal a mixed picture, with some encouraging developments alongside areas of concern.
Jewelry Industry Collection Claims Increase in 2026
Rising Collection Activity Is a Growing Concern
As we noted in our first-quarter industry report, claims* were already increasing early in the year. Year-to-date claims rose 75.6% to 346, compared with 197 during the same period in 2025. The average claim amount also climbed 52.8% to $13,231, meaning both the number of claims and the average dollars at stake increased.
Third-quarter results reinforced that trend. Claims totaled 90, up from 73 a year earlier, while the average claim amount reached $16,681, compared with $10,256.
*Collection claims reflect accounts placed with JBT and do not, by themselves, establish an industry-wide default rate.
Other Jewelry Market Trends Paint a Mixed Picture
Total Jewelry Business Listings
North American jewelry business listings declined 1.4% to 23,088 compared with the third quarter of 2025. New-business additions fell 13.9% year to date to 241.
The decline in total listings continues a trend observed in our previous quarterly reports. While the changes have been relatively modest, the number of jewelry businesses operating across North America continues to decrease.
Jewelry Business Closures and Discontinuances Decline
Encouragingly, business discontinuances—which include ceased operations, consolidations and bankruptcies—decreased 30.6% to 367, although they continued to exceed new-business additions.
Our second-quarter statistics showed significant year-over-year decreases in retail businesses ceasing operations and in sales and mergers.
Jewelry Industry Bankruptcies Rise Year Over Year
Year-to-date bankruptcies rose to 15 from 8, with none reported during the third quarter.
This distinction is worth watching. While fewer jewelry businesses are discontinuing operations overall, bankruptcies and collection claims remain areas of concern.
Go Deeper With Q3 Jewelry Statistics
JBT Members receive our full quarterly Vital Statistics Report, plus weekly tracking of credit changes, closures, new businesses and bankruptcies. Stay informed about who you're working with and what's happening across the jewelry industry.