Over half of Canadians have suffered reduced incomes since the global outbreak took hold
Up to 6% of Canadian home owners said they missed a mortgage payment recently as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a mid-April poll by Forum Research.
The survey also found that 76% will fail to pay another loan instalment before the crisis ends. Meanwhile, 46% were unable to secure mortgage deferrals and other similar forms of aid from their lenders, CMT reported.
Renters were hit especially hard, with 14% saying that they missed a payment recently.
Mobility restrictions and work stoppages since late March have severely affected households and landlords alike. The global outbreak has upended the national economy as a result, said Todd Skinner, TransUnion’s regional president for Canada, Latin America, and Caribbean.
“Whether it’s their health, financial well-being or changes in day-to-day living, the lives of millions of people in Canada and abroad have been dramatically changed,” Skinner said.
Data from TransUnion indicated that 57% of Canadians saw their incomes fall over the past few weeks. Another 10% are bracing themselves for further declines in the near future, with the possible losses pegged at an average of $935.
The most acute effects were seen among millennials and Gen Z-ers, TransUnion said. Approximately 78% and 74%, respectively, of these cohorts expressed fears about not being able to fulfil their monthly bills.
