Canada's households hit hard by inflation and interest rates |
High inflation and interest rates are significantly impacting Canadian households, leading to a 9% increase in bankruptcy filings and consumer proposals year-over-year. Over the past year, more than 134,000 individuals faced financial difficulties, nearing levels seen during the Great Recession. Despite this, on a per-capita basis, consumer financial stress remains below pre-pandemic levels. However, provinces like Ontario, B.C., and Alberta, with high household debt, are experiencing insolvencies at or above pre-pandemic levels. Charles St-Arnaud, chief economist with Alberta Central, noted, “So far, the labour market's resilience has meant that borrowers have been able to weather the shock”. The future of consumer debt repayment hinges on the job market, with unemployment rising to 6.6%, the highest since May 2017.