Credit Lines Worst Trend Of Last 20 Years, Wealthy Barber Writer Says

Fixed or Variable?

Are rising consumer debt loads the Achilles' heel of the Canadian economy?

With interest rates expected to rise, nearly four-in-ten Canadians believe that a fixed mortgage rate is the way to go over the next year, a new poll shows.

Having weathered the recent recession fairly with only a few bumps and bruises, but nothing long-lasting for the housing market, moderation is in the forecast, according to Mark Carney, in remarks made during a speech Wednesday in Vancouver.

OTTAWA — Recent Canadian homebuyers have a "a high level of financial literacy" and many are paying off their mortgages at accelerated rates, according to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. survey released Wednesday.

Overall market share for Canada’s mortgage brokers remains steady in 2011 at 23 per cent, although, according to the latest CMHC poll of consumers, they continue to attract just under 40 per cent of home purchase transactions.

OTTAWA”Canada™s annual inflation rate jumped to the highest level in eight years last month, rising to 3.7 per cent as big increases in gasoline prices pushed the index to a new post-recession peak.