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Tracking Heterogeneous Spending Patterns with Credit Card Microdata

Author

Listed:
  • Jia Qi Xiao
  • Jackson Reid
  • Joey Daniels

Abstract

Timely and granular spending data are essential for understanding turning points in the economy. In this paper, we introduce a measure of account-level credit card spending, constructed using microdata on credit card balances and payments from TransUnion’s anonymized credit bureau database. Our measure is available at a higher frequency and with much greater granularity than other metrics: we capture monthly spending for approximately 80% of adults in Canada with the potential to view changes in the economy with a lag of less than one month, and can disaggregate spending by age, geographic location and credit history. When linked to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions’ real estate secured lending database, we can further examine spending by regulatory mortgage underwriting characteristics, supporting agile monitoring of granular spending dynamics.

Suggested Citation

  • Jia Qi Xiao & Jackson Reid & Joey Daniels, 2026. "Tracking Heterogeneous Spending Patterns with Credit Card Microdata," Staff Analytical Papers 2026-38, Bank of Canada.
    • Handle: RePEc:bca:bocsap:26-38
    DOI: 10.34989/sap-2026-38
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    JEL classification:

    • C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods
    • C5 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling
    • C55 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Large Data Sets: Modeling and Analysis
    • C8 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs
    • C81 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Microeconomic Data; Data Access
    • D - Microeconomics
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics
    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E3 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • G - Financial Economics
    • G5 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

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