Despite Tuesday's news about Calgary's unemployment rate dropping to 6.8 per cent, Albertans are heading into 2026 with deep concerns about their financial future. Three-quarters expect the cost of living to worsen this year, among the highest levels of any province, according to the latest MNP Consumer Debt Index.

The pessimism extends beyond prices. Two-thirds of Albertans believe the economy will deteriorate, and three in five expect rising pressure from interest rates and inflation. Transportation costs, healthcare expenses, and housing affordability all top the list of concerns as residents anticipate everyday financial pressures will intensify.

But there are glimmers of hope in the data. The proportion of Albertans living within $200 of not being able to pay their bills each month has fallen to 38 per cent, down 12 points from last quarter and the lowest level measured since the pandemic. The average amount left after monthly expenses has also risen by $306 to reach $1,119, the largest quarterly increase among all provinces.

Lindsay Burchill, a licensed insolvency trustee with MNP, says Albertans are responding to financial stress in starkly different ways. More than half are taking proactive steps like adjusting budgets or consolidating debt, while nearly one-third are avoiding financial discussions or relying more heavily on credit to cover essential expenses. One in 10 feel completely frozen, unsure where to begin.

"When Albertans engage in financial flight behaviours, the concern is that it can create a misleading sense of short-term relief," said Burchill. "Turning a blind eye to bills or financial conversations may reduce stress temporarily, but those behaviours often allow financial problems to intensify quietly."

Interest rates remain a critical pressure point. Nearly two-thirds of Albertans say they urgently need rates to come down, and two in five fear that future increases could push them toward bankruptcy.

Yet despite widespread financial anxiety, fewer than one in 10 Albertans have sought advice from a financial professional. Burchill emphasized that licensed insolvency trustees are the only federally regulated professionals authorized to administer government debt solutions and assess all available options.