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Canada's Household Debt Service Burden Edges Higher in Q1 as Household Credit Market Debt Outpaces Income

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The seasonally adjusted stock of household credit market debt in Canada reached $3.25 trillion in Q1, said the country's statistical agency on Friday.

At the same time, the ratio of household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income increased for the sixth consecutive quarter, climbing by 0.9 percentage point to 179.6% in Q1, noted Statistics Canada in a statement.

In other words, there was roughly $1.80 in credit market debt for every dollar of household disposable income, pointed out Statistics Canada.

The household debt service ratio -- measured as total obligated payments of principal and interest on credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income -- rose after two consecutive quarterly declines, added StatsCan.

The ratio finished Q1 at 14.75%, up from 14.68% in Q4 2025, as total debt payments rose 1.1% to outpace income. At the same time, mortgage interest payments increased 0.9% in Q1, following decreases in Q3 and Q4 2025.

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