Plain meaning
A Statistics Canada ratio comparing household credit-market debt with household disposable income. A value of 179.6% means households owe about $1.80 in credit-market debt for every dollar of disposable income.
Also called
household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income
household credit-market debt to household disposable income
credit market debt to disposable income
credit-market debt to disposable income
debt-to-income ratio
Background
Statistics Canada publishes the measure quarterly in Table 38-10-0238-01 as part of the household sector credit market summary.
Key points
- The numerator is household credit-market debt, including major borrowing categories such as mortgage and non-mortgage credit.
- The denominator is household disposable income, measured on a seasonally adjusted basis in the household-sector credit-market summary.
- The ratio is usually read as debt per dollar of disposable income; 180% is roughly $1.80 of debt for every $1 of disposable income.
- The ratio is a macroeconomic indicator, not a household-by-household affordability test.
- It should be read alongside debt-service ratios, interest rates, income growth, housing prices, and household net worth.
Why it comes up
The ratio helps explain household sensitivity to interest rates, mortgage renewals, consumer spending pressure, and the economic backdrop for tax and fiscal policy. Statistics Canada reported that it rose for a sixth straight quarter to 179.6% in the first quarter of 2026.