MNP Consumer Debt Index shows New Brunswickers are bracing for a challenging 2026

Three in five Atlantic Canadians anticipate rising housing pressure (61%) this year — among the highest levels across all provinces — alongside higher living costs (68%).

MONCTON, NB – January 12, 2026 – Atlantic Canadians are bracing for rising financial challenges in 2026, with nearly seven in 10 (68%) expecting the cost of living to worsen. According to the latest MNP Consumer Debt Index, this pessimism extends well beyond prices, reflecting a broader sense that economic conditions will deteriorate.

“There is a widespread sense across Atlantic Canada that household budgets will come under increasing strain in the year ahead, heightening concerns about economic stability,” says Tara Silliker, a local Licensed Insolvency Trustee with MNP LTD. “Many Atlantic Canadians expect mounting pressure across everyday expenses, with housing affordability weighing heavily on households across the region.”

Housing affordability is a key concern for Atlantic Canadians, with three in five (61%) expecting housing affordability to deteriorate this year — the highest proportion among all provinces. Atlantic Canadians are also the most likely to anticipate that Canada’s relationship with the U.S. will deteriorate (58%). Three in five Atlantic Canadians also believe the economy overall will worsen (59%) and anticipate rising pressure from interest rates and inflation (63%), while more than half expect unemployment and the job market (53%) to worsen. More than half anticipate higher taxes (55%) and transportation costs (57%), and about half expect healthcare costs (51%) to worsen. Three in five also express concerns about rising poverty and inequality (64%) as well as worsening government deficit and debt (66%).

While Atlantic Canadians are pessimistic about the year ahead, there is some cause for optimism. Two in five Atlantic Canadians (39%) report being $200 or less away from financial insolvency each month, down 11 points from last quarter. The average amount Atlantic Canadians have left at the end of the month has risen to $995, up $193 since last quarter. While these gains point to modest financial relief, less than half of Atlantic Canadians (39%, -3 pts) report having six months of emergency savings, leaving many households vulnerable to disruption.

“Sustained financial pressure is contributing to both action and hesitation across the region,” says Silliker. “How Atlantic Canadians respond to financial stress often depends on whether they feel they have any flexibility to work with. Additional room in their budget makes it possible for some Atlantic Canadians to make adjustments and explore options for managing debt. Ongoing economic uncertainty continues to reinforce debt avoidance for others with less financial flexibility.”

Atlantic Canadians are responding in markedly different ways as financial pressures intensify. Three in five (62%) are adopting a fight mentality, taking proactive steps such as adjusting their budgets (36%), attempting to consolidate debt (14%), or seeking advice from a financial professional (15%). Atlantic Canadians are more likely than those in any other province to say they sought professional advice. However, nearly half (47%) are taking a flight response, which includes avoiding thinking about their financial responsibilities (21%), steering clear of financial discussions with family or professionals (22%), or relying on credit to cover essential expenses (20%). Atlantic Canadians are more likely than those in any of the other provinces to say they have engaged in each of these three flight responses. One in five (21%) say they feel financially frozen, unsure where to begin when facing financial stress.

“Financial flight behaviour can create the false impression that finances are under control,” says Silliker. “While putting off bills, avoiding conversations about money, or leaning more heavily on credit may reduce stress temporarily, those behaviours often allow financial problems to quietly build. This can make it harder to regain control down the road.”

Interest rates remain a critical source of stress for Atlantic Canadians, despite the Bank of Canada holding its last policy interest rate at 2.25 percent. Seven in 10 (70%, +2 pts) say they desperately need interest rates to go down, and more than half (55%, +4 pts) remain concerned about their ability to repay their debts — both the highest proportions among all provinces. Nearly half (48%) fear that rising interest rates could drive them toward Bankruptcy, a six-point increase from last quarter.

“Confidence about the year ahead remains fragile for many Atlantic Canadians, especially those with high debt levels,” says Silliker. “With heightened sensitivity to interest rates and elevated concern about debt repayment running higher in Atlantic Canada than elsewhere in the country, households have very little margin for error as they look toward 2026.”

Relatively few Atlantic Canadians are turning to professional support when facing financial stress, despite widespread concern about costs, debt, and the year ahead. Slightly more than one in 10 Atlantic Canadians (15%) say they have sought advice from a professional as part of their efforts to fight back against financial strain.

These findings echo a recent joint consumer alert from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) and the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CAIRP). This alert highlighted how stress and stigma can prevent Canadians from asking for help and delay access to guidance from Licensed Insolvency Trustees.

“Too many Atlantic Canadians are still trying to manage financial stress by themselves,” says Silliker. “Licensed Insolvency Trustees are regulated professionals who are available to help individuals gain clarity on their debt relief options, make informed decisions, and prevent financial challenges from worsening.”

Licensed Insolvency Trustees are the only federally regulated professionals in Canada who can assist with all the debt relief options, including Consumer Proposals and Bankruptcy, stop harassment from debt collectors, and discharge people from debt.

“Many people may not realize that not all debt advice is the same,” says Silliker. “Financial stress can make individuals more vulnerable to quick-fix promises and misinformation. Turning to a federally regulated professional such as a Licensed Insolvency Trustee helps ensure Atlantic Canadians receive unbiased guidance that considers their full financial situation.”

MNP’s national team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees offers free consultations across the country to help severely indebted Canadians get unbiased debt advice, understand their rights, and determine the best path forward.

About MNP LTD

MNP LTD, a division of the national accounting firm MNP LLP, is the largest insolvency practice in Canada. For more than 50 years, our experienced team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees and advisors have been working with individuals to help them recover from times of financial distress and regain control of their finances. With more than 240 offices from coast to coast, MNP helps thousands of Canadians each year who are struggling with an overwhelming amount of debt. Visit MNPdebt.ca to contact a Licensed Insolvency Trustee or use our free Do-it-Yourself (DIY) debt assessment tools. For regular, bite-sized insights about debt and personal finances, subscribe to the MNP 3-Minute Debt Break Podcast.

About the MNP Consumer Debt Index

The MNP Consumer Debt Index measures Canadians’ attitudes toward their consumer debt and gauges their ability to pay their bills, endure unexpected expenses, and absorb interest-rate fluctuations without approaching insolvency. Conducted by Ipsos and updated quarterly, the Index is an industry-leading barometer of financial pressure or relief among Canadians.

Now in its thirty-fifth wave, the Index has increased to 87 points, up one point from last quarter. Visit MNPdebt.ca/CDI to learn more.

The data was compiled by Ipsos on behalf of MNP LTD between November 28 and December 1, 2025. For this survey, a sample of 2,001 Canadians aged 18 years and over was interviewed. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within ±2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, coverage error and measurement error.