Household debt has hit record levels according to Statistics Canada. The total amount of credit market debt which includes mortgages, non-mortgage loans and consumer credit held by Canadian households hit a record high in the third quarter of 2014, climbing to 162.6% of disposable income. That means Canadians owed about $1.63 for every dollar of disposable income.
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Equifax Canada reports that household debt levels are climbing fast, to a record $1.422-trillion in the fourth quarter of 2014. Installment loans, primarily car loans, were the fastest growing segment of debt, up 11% year over year. Credit card debt rose 5.9% from a year ago.
These household debt figures have attracted international attention. A report, recently published by McKinsey & Company, singled out Canada and six other countries (The Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand) with “potential vulnerabilities in household debt.” One of the most alarming statements in this report is that Canadian household debt levels are higher than those that existed in the U.S. at the peak of the credit bubble. However the data suggests a “potential risk, but not an imminent crisis which is good news indeed. The risks that were identified in the report were:
- Mortgages are the main form of household debt.
- If the economy slows down and unemployment rises, many mortgages could become unaffordable.
- If interest rates rise, it could create a much larger burden on households repaying debt.
Many Canadians may not realize it, but because of their household debt, they are one paycheque away from what could be a financial crisis. Even worse, what would happen upon the death of the debtor?
Do you owe more than your disposable income? Are you living from paycheque to paycheque? Don’t wait for financial disaster to strike. The earlier you seek financial help the more options will be open to you. Contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. today. We’ll review your individual issues and come up with a sound plan so that Starting Over, Starting Now you can enjoy financial peace of mind.
