Latest news with #Catsiliras
Global News
7 days ago
- Business
- Global News
More Canadian youth are taking on debt — and low wages mean many can't pay
As Canadian youth face a difficult job market and low wages, those taking on debt for the first time are finding it difficult to pay it down and new data shows some are already missing payments. A new report from Equifax Canada shows there's been a significant increase in delinquencies among Canadians under 26, with those 18 to 25 seeing a 15.1 per cent increase compared to an 8.9 per cent rise among non-mortgage holders overall. This includes a 21.7 per cent rise from this time last year in 90-day or more delinquencies of credit cards among those under 26. The overall population with this type of delinquency rose 15.8 per cent. A big factor, Equifax says, comes from wages entering the job market not matching the amount they may need to pay off debt. Story continues below advertisement 'Being able to balance the cost of living with debt levels is more difficult and more challenging, which is why through the numbers we are seeing that stress come through,' said Kathy Catsiliras, vice-president of analytical consulting for Equifax Canada. 'They are finding it more challenging to stay current on their debt obligation, married with the fact we're seeing unemployment rates increase.' 1:58 Young Canadians struggling most to pay bills: Equifax The report also showed delinquency rates for younger drivers rose by 30 per cent on auto loans, compared to the overall rate which saw an increase of 15.3 per cent. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Catsiliras added with unemployment rates rising — Canada's rose to 6.9 per cent in April, according to Statistics Canada — some youth are without an income to pay off debt, but also have to resort to their credit card or loans to afford things like food and rent. Story continues below advertisement Some of that difficulty comes from a job market that is stagnating amid the ongoing trade war with the U.S. As a result of President Donald Trump's tariff policies, some companies have had to dial back plans for hiring new workers and others have had to lay off employees. The increase in the cost of essentials, shelter and a competitive job market are all factors that put added pressure on Canadian youth trying to pay for basic needs, said Shannon Terrell, a personal finance expert with NerdWallet. 'All of these factors combined can definitely make for a challenging financial situation in which your credit card is being used to bridge the gap, especially if you're someone who's living paycheque to paycheque,' she said. Some of the delinquencies, however, may also be a result of more youth entering the credit market and taking on a new credit card or loan, but due to them having debt for the first time, they may make a misstep. 1:37 Credit card debt rising in Canada 'They're getting used to the fact if they charge a lot, those payments go up and they're going to owe a balance,' said Matt Fabian, TransUnion Canada's director of financial services research and consulting. Story continues below advertisement 'Some of them, they're able to adapt and do just fine. Some of them, it's a bit of trial by fire, so we do see sometimes heightened delinquency.' Fabian said they do see a high 'cure' rate, however, with youth who may have a 'trip and fall' eventually understanding how debt works and not missing payments. A TransUnion Canada report released Wednesday showed youth are among two groups driving up the total debt by Canadians, with the group seeing their outstanding balances grow by 30.6 per cent compared to the previous year. Fabian explained outstanding balances is taking a look at the overall outstanding debt Canadians owe, though the report showed youth also make up 10.3 per cent of new accounts opened. With more youth entering the debt world by opening new credit or taking on loans, financial experts say there are still things that can be done to avoid missing payments. 'It's often this challenging balancing act,' Terrell said. 'They're (youth) trying to build their financial foundations while they're facing, in reality, some of the steepest affordability challenges Canadians have faced in recent memory.' Terrell said if facing difficulty with debt, it can be worth having a debt repayment strategy, looking into a balance transfer credit card, debt consolidation loan or working with a financial advisor to determine the best options. Story continues below advertisement Budgeting can also come into play, Catsiliras said, including making sure you can afford more than the minimum payment to avoid interest building that could make paying down debt more difficult. 'Make sure from an affordability perspective before engaging into some form of new credit that you understand the obligation, you understand sort of payment requirements, and you're able to hold true to your commitments so that you don't fall into the groups we're seeing a lot of people fall into, which is a lot of delinquency,' she said.
Global News
7 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Record rise in Ontario mortgage delinquencies stem from COVID-era interest rates: Equifax
While many Canadians are having financial troubles, no where are they more acute than in Ontario, according to a new report from Equifax. The company, which monitors consumer credit, says Ontario's mortgage delinquency rate rose to 0.24 per cent in the first three months of 2025, a massive 71.5 per cent increase from that same time period in 2024. Kathy Catsiliras, vice president of analytical consulting at Equifax, said Wednesday Ontarians are paying the piper for the low rates that were seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We had ultra-low interest rates which led to a very hot housing market and specifically, we saw a lot of folks going out again — in many cases purchasing properties and taking on a mortgage,' she explained. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Now it's renewal time, and … interest rates are a lot higher.' Story continues below advertisement Those rates lead to 'payment shock,' which is the accompanying bump in mortgage rates that homeowners with mortgages then have to deal with. Pair that along with the higher cost of living that Canadians have been dealing with over the past couple of years, and it adds up to see mortgage delinquency rise above pre-pandemic levels, Catsiliras added. While Ontarians were having trouble paying off housing debt, they were also more likely in the first quarter to default on other types of loans as well, Equifax data shows. The firm said Tuesday that non-mortgage delinquencies had risen 24 per cent over the first quarter of 2024. Higher rates of unemployment, coupled with inflation over the past couple of years, are contributing factors in the issues Canadians are facing. 'It is more expensive to live here, which means you're going to have to make a lot more money from an affordability perspective, or it's going to be harder to be paying off your debt levels,' Catsiliras said. With all of that uncertainty, Equifax said that Canadians are racking up credit card debt at a lower rate, spending on average $107 less per month with Ontario being one of the leaders in that area. However, at the same time, Canadians were also making 52.9 per cent less payments on their credit cards.
