Canadians added 6% to their debt loads last year.

TransUnion looked at non-mortgage debt and found the average consumer owed $1,525 more at the end of last year than in 2011.

TransUnion says it’s the biggest year-to-year fourth-quarter increase since 2008.

The quarterly analysis estimates the average Canadian owed a total of about $27,500 as of December 31. That covers things such as car loans and leases, credit cards and lines of credit.

The highest debt loads were at the western end of the country. Albertans and British Columbians are carrying debts about $10,000 above the national average.