Banks lower prime rates after Bank of Canada move

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø banks are lowering their prime rates after the Bank of Canada cut its benchmark rate for the first time in four years. Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem speaks during a news conference on the Bank of Canada's rate announcement, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Roughly six in 10 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs with a mortgage are financially stressed, with younger homeowners more likely to be under pressure.

In a new Leger survey, 68 per cent ofrespondents between 18 and 34 years of age with a mortgage say theyare very or somewhat financially stressed about their mortgages, compared with 62 per cent across all homeowners.

Last week, the Bank of Canada cut its key interest rate, offering some relief to borrowers after the central bank's fight against inflation saw its key lending rate rise to a peak of five per cent.

Four out of 10 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs surveyed by Leger said they think the Bank of Canada should be cautious as it lowers interest rates, but another third think it’s not going fast enough.

Respondents in households making more than $100,000 a year were more likely to say they support the central bank’s caution.

Though the steep rise in interest rates has brought inflation within reach of the Bank of Canada’s two per cent target, it has put pressure on ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø households and weighed on the economy.

Among the survey respondents with mortgages, 77 per cent have a fixed rate.

Of those with fixed-rate mortgages, 43 per cent say their mortgage is up for renewal this year or next year.

Two thirds of respondents whose mortgages are up for renewal in the next two years say they plan to go for a fixed-rate mortgage. Younger respondents were more likely to say they will opt for a variable rate.

Leger surveyed 1,528 ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs between June 7 and June 9. Online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

This report by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was first published June 11, 2024.

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