US Jewelry Business Closures Ease in Q3, but Active Firms Fall 1.4%

US jewelry business closures fell to 116 in the third quarter of 2026, down from 126 a year earlier, according to the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT). Yet the number of active jewelry businesses declined 1.4%, and fewer new stores opened, indicating that the industry's contraction continued through September 30.

Business interruptions, a category that includes closures, mergers and bankruptcies, fell 30.6% year over year to 367. The decline points to less disruption across those categories, but it should not be read as a measure of closures alone.

The distinction matters: fewer closures do not necessarily mean the number of active businesses is growing. Changes in openings and other business activity also affect the total. With new store openings lower and the active business count still declining, the figures show that the slower pace of closures has not reversed the industry's contraction.

Future JBT figures on closures, openings and active businesses will help show whether the decline in disruption translates into a more stable business count.