Scotiabank Track Record
Key Issues - Canadian Household Debt
Household debt has been increasing since the mid-1980's
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Low interest rates, demographics (including immigration), financial innovation and shift in consumer
attitude/behaviour
Debt increase has largely been driven largely by mortgage debt (represents ~65% of consumer credit)
Household debt to disposable income is only one metric to analyze
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While debt growth is not fast by historical standards, income growth has not kept up, leading to increasing
household debt to income ratio
Household debt to income ratio mixes a balance sheet measure "debt" with an income statement measure
"disposable income". Borrowers are not expected to pay off their debts with one year's income
Other considerations regarding consumer indebtedness and consumer resilience to shocks:
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Housing affordability - Mortgage debt service ratios are in line with historical averages at the national level
Interest and principal mortgage debt payments steady at ~6% of disposable income since 2008
■Consumers prudently taking advantage of low rates to repay more principal
Net worth - Net asset levels (assets less debt) are at an all-time high of more than 8 times disposable
income
About half of those assets are financial (not real estate)
■ Asset growth has outpaced debt growth
Interest rate shocks - Despite expectations for higher rates, there are mitigating factors
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Canadians have substantial equity in their homes
The majority of mortgage holders are locked in at fixed rates, with the 5-year term the most popular
■ Variable rate borrowers have the option to switch into fixed rates
Unemployment rate - A key driver of delinquencies and losses that determines borrowers' ability to pay
debt
Levels are expected to remain fairly stable over the next 2-3 years
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