[Sylvanfan]

The income numbers are likely house hold income.

As for the 18% interest rates in the 1980's the country was in such a different place demographically you really can't compare it. It was an era where you simply had 4 kids all trying to borrow money from their 2 parents to start out in life. Going forward the demographics are much more balanced.

Also with the Bank of Canada now controlling interest rates they don't just arbitrarily set rates, they do it to keep inflation at certain levels. If they have to increase the rates to a level of 8%, it's because there has been enough inflation to make this a requirement. So things like incomes and the price of everything else will have or should have increased too.