Research Field(s): Applied Econometrics Household Finance Housing

Staff research

What typically happens before households fall behind on mortgage payments

Sparks at Bank article Laura Zhao, Jia Qi Xiao
Canadians usually pay their mortgages on time. But some fall behind on mortgage payments. Before they do, homeowners often increase their use of credit cards and lines of credit, and then fall behind on those payments.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Sparks at Bank article Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Household and business credit

Consumers’ Path to Mortgage Delinquency

Staff analytical paper 2026-3 Laura Zhao, Jia Qi Xiao, Aidan Witts
Analyzing TransUnion data from 2015–2024, this study identifies a systematic timeline of distress where rising credit utilization and non-mortgage arrears precede mortgage delinquency by up to two years. This deterioration intensifies in the final six months, providing a robust suite of high-frequency indicators for monitoring emerging household stress.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical paper JEL Code(s): D, D1, D14, G, G2, G21, G5, G51 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial system regulation and oversight, Household and business credit

The reliance of Canadians on credit card debt as a predictor of financial stress

Staff analytical note 2024-18 Jia Qi Xiao
I analyze the relationship between carrying a credit card balance and future financial stress. I find that carrying a balance significantly increases the likelihood that credit card holders miss future debt payments. This likelihood tends to rise as credit card balances grow and are held for long periods.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): D, D1, E, E4, E5, G, G2, G21 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Household and business credit

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