When Patrick O’Connell picks up the phone these days to help Prince Edward Islanders in financial distress, he’s hearing a familiar concern: the rising cost of living, which is driving people deeper into debt.

O'Connell, a licensed insolvency trustee for P.E.I. with Allan Marshall & Associates, said many of the Islanders he speaks with are struggling to make ends meet as everyday expenses continue to climb.

He said last month was the busiest his firm has ever been on the Island, handling more insolvency files on P.E.I. than ever before.

"Pretty much over 90 per cent of the people now would be saying, ‘I just can't keep up with my groceries and with gas and on my current income, it's just everything seems to be going up, and my income hasn't gone up... at the same rate as my expenses,’”

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