National balance sheet accounts

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National net worth edged up 0.3% (or $20 billion) to $6 trillion in the fourth quarter, reflecting a 0.7% increase in national wealth, particularly residential real estate assets. The advance in national net worth was moderated by a $19 billion increase in net foreign debt, as a decline in national saving led to the need for greater financing from abroad.

The increase in net foreign debt in the fourth quarter was split equally between borrowing from abroad to finance the current account deficit and the revaluation effect from the appreciation of the Canadian dollar, which lowered the value of international assets more than the value of international liabilities. During the fourth quarter of 2009, foreign holdings of Canadian bonds were up strongly while gains in foreign equity markets were moderated by the currency revaluation effect.

On a per capita basis, national net worth remained largely unchanged from the third quarter at $175,900.

Household net worth increases

Household net worth was up $93 billion (+1.6%) to $5.9 trillion in the fourth quarter. Increases in the value of financial assets, especially equities and life insurance and pensions, as well as an increase in residential real estate, largely accounted for the increase in net worth. This was partially offset by rising financial liabilities, particularly mortgages.

Owner's equity as a percentage of real estate assets remained relatively unchanged (67.8%) in the fourth quarter, but nonetheless continued its downward trend that started in the third quarter of 2008.

Household net worth per capita grew to $172,600 during the fourth quarter.

The Standard and Poor's / Toronto Stock Exchange Index increased almost 3%, marking the third consecutive quarterly advance and pushing the index to a year-over-year increase of over 30%. This contributed to gains in equity holdings of households in the fourth quarter, albeit at a slower rate than the previous quarter.

Households increased their mortgage liabilities, reflecting continuing strength in existing home sales and renovation activity as well as an increase in new housing construction.

The credit market debt-to-income ratio for households increased from 143.0% in the third quarter to 144.4% in the fourth. In other words, households had $144 in debt in the fourth quarter for every $100 of disposable income.

Lower interest rates kept the debt-service ratio low for the most part of 2009. This ratio rose slightly in the fourth quarter to 7.42%.

While the household debt-to-income ratio increased steadily in 2009, the ratio of household debt to net worth remained relatively stable during the year.

Government net debt continues to advance

The net worth of the government sector declined $20 billion in the fourth quarter, as net debt continued to advance.

Both provincial and federal governments raised funds largely by issuing bonds. The federal government retired short-term debt, moderating the increase in overall liabilities.

Nevertheless, overall government sector net debt (at book value) as a percentage of gross domestic product increased to 43.7% from 42.3% in the previous quarter and from 36.3% in the fourth quarter of 2008. The year-over-year increase in net debt to gross domestic product was the first year-over-year advance since 1995 and the largest since 1992.

Corporate debt to equity edges down

Equity financing of non-financial corporations slowed in the fourth quarter from the third quarter while bond issuance strengthened. However, overall equity issues and retained earnings outpaced borrowing and the ratio of credit market debt to equity (at book value) declined further.

Institutional investors, such as trusteed pension plans and mutual funds, increased their overall investment in marketable securities, notably provincial bonds and short-term paper. Consistent with the increase in the asset value of life insurance and pensions of household sector, the liabilities of institutional investors in the form of life insurance and pensions advanced in the fourth quarter. Financial institutions recorded a smaller rise in their holdings of equities in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter, in line with reduced share issues.

Available on CANSIM: tables 378-0012 to 378-0014 and 378-0049 to 378-0116.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 1806.

The fourth quarter 2009 National Balance Sheet Accounts: Data Tables, Vol. 2, no. 4 (13-022-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the information officer (613-951-3640; iead-info-dcrd@statcan.gc.ca), Income and Expenditure Accounts Division.