Canadian consumers are running out of cash, according to a Big Three credit agency. TransUnion’s latest household survey on October 4th, shows a rise in consumers who are seeing the shortfall to cover bills. The gap between what they can pay and payment obligations, is now surging higher. Despite the bad news, consumers now have a little extra savings to carry them, before running out of money.
About Today’s Numbers
Today we’re looking at the financial shortfall consumers face during the pandemic. The firm found 63% of consumers are concerned about their ability to pay bills. Of those, 65% of consumers could still pay for over a month. We’re only focusing on TransUnions insights on people with shortfalls. After all, if you could pay your bill – you didn’t have a shortfall.
Average Shortfall To Cover Bills Increases
Canadian consumers not able to pay their bills saw the average shortfall get larger. Much larger. TransUnion estimates an average of $921 per month in the latest survey. This is up 6.44% from the previous survey, conducted just over a month ago. It’s also the second highest shortfall observed since June 29, when it was just a dollar higher. Despite the larger shortfall, people have a longer runway before going broke.
Canadian Consumer Average Payment Shortfall
Consumer estimate of shortfall to cover household bills, for households unable to cover all payments.
Source: TransUnion, Better Dwelling.Consumers With A Shortfall Have 8 Weeks Left
The number of weeks before the shortfall turns into running out of money is longer. The latest survey shows consumers had an average of 8.2 weeks before facing an inability to pay. That’s a whole extra week compared to the last survey’s 7.2 weeks. Weeks left started to inch higher as full stimulus measures and supports were rolled out.
Canadian Consumer Average Payments Left
The number of weeks the average consumer experiencing a shortfall estimates they have left before running out of money.
Source: TransUnion, Better Dwelling.Canadian households are facing a larger shortfall, but have more weeks before running out of cash. This may seem contrary at first, but makes sense when you consider the overall picture. Payment deferrals and support measures sent the savings rate soaring. This likely allowed households facing a shortfall to stash a little extra money away. As payments resume, they have a longer runway before running out. The number of weeks only takes these households to December on average though.
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I wonder if there is any stats to show percentage of homeowners that can’t pay all their bills vs renters. If home owners can’t pay, they will stop paying their Credit cards or car payments first and maybe effect depreciating assets more.
If renters fall short, they may elect to stop paying full rents. This will require landlords to negotiate and lower rent, or possibly accept several months of non payment when evicting.
I have a strong feeling being a landlord of highly leveraged property in large cities with high ratios of young people and service workers is going to become painful soon.
Anyone have any thoughts on this?
I’m trying to follow the puck. When the pandemic hit, people stopped paying mortgage, taxes, etc. Then they collected stimulus money from the various programs which they were able to save because they were deferring payments (the big ones). Savings went up. Now, as stimulus ends, people are using their “savings” to pay their bills. What will happen in six months? or a year?
Scott, exactly! I have no idea whats up here. People were struggling to pay bills prior – but we were told it was under control for all except a small few. Then Pandemic hit and gave many a boost allowing them to save. Now is it the same people struggling to pay their bills and debts? Now there burning through cash as if they weren’t before? Must be the unemployment.