Debt becomes us
Visit here to check out our series, Debt Becomes Us.
We featured stories on why Ottawa residents carry too much consumer debt, the dilemma for impending retirees and their debt, and introduce you to two Ottawans who are escaping debt by bucking the trend and who plan on retiring by age 40.
Tuesday, Sept. 4: Canadians with big debts worry about interest rate
Wednesday, Sept. 5: Ottawa woman's debt delays retirement
Thursday, Sept. 6: Former Ottawa worker embraces lost art of frugality
You can also check out a transcript of our web chat from Sept. 6 with financial blogger Mr. Money Mustache, by clicking this link.
We also want to hear your stories about defeating debt. Please email them to cbcnewsottawa@cbc.ca and we might share them online here.
Canadians are carrying, on average, $26,221 of consumer debt. That's the highest amount since 2004.
See below for the numbers across the provinces.
| Average consumer debt, by province | |||
| Q2 2011 | Q2 2012 | Change | |
| British Columbia | $36,820 | $37,879 | 2.9% |
| Alberta | $34,081 | $33,564 | -1.5% |
| Saskatchewan | $26,902 | $27,699 | 3.0% |
| Manitoba | $19,456 | $19,945 | 2.5% |
| Ontario | $24,721 | $25,447 | 2.9% |
| Quebec | $18,269 | $18,580 | 1.7% |
| New Brunswick | $21,547 | $23,045 | 6.9% |
| Nova Scotia | $23,161 | $24,255 | 4.7% |
| Prince Edward Island | $22,807 | $23,931 | 2.4% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $23,353 | $24,495 | 4.9% |
| (Source: TransUnion) | |||