The Economy, Plain and Simple

Explaining economic issues that matter to you

The Economy, Plain and Simple

Price check: Inflation in Canada

Why prices change, and what it means for the economy.
Sharon Kozicki
Sharon Kozicki
Jill Vardy
Jill Vardy
Laurence Savoie-Chabot
Laurence Savoie-Chabot
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
March 10, 2025
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Learning more about Indigenous economies

Indigenous businesses make a valuable contribution to Canada’s economy, but we still have much to learn about what makes them distinct.
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
November 27, 2024
The Economy, Plain and Simple

How high productivity helps fight inflation

Higher productivity helps keep prices down and wages up. It gives workers more money to spend and increases the value they get when they spend it. And it allows businesses to weather cost increases without having to raise prices. All together, these factors drive economic growth.
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
August 27, 2024
The Economy, Plain and Simple

What drives up the price of groceries

Weather, energy prices, and labour and import costs all contribute to higher grocery prices
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
July 9, 2024
The Economy, Plain and Simple

What labour force participation tells us about the economy

Labour force participation tells us how many people are active in the labour market and how many have dropped out of it. It is just one piece of a larger puzzle, but it is essential to understanding what is happening in the labour market overall.
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 26, 2024
The Economy, Plain and Simple

What you pay for at the pump

Several factors help set gasoline prices: the costs of crude oil, refining, transporting, retailing and marketing gas, as well as taxes.
Kun Mo
Kun Mo
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 19, 2024
The Economy, Plain and Simple

How higher interest rates affect inflation

When the Bank of Canada changes its policy interest rate, it affects every part of the economy – but that does not happen all at once. Learn more about how raising and lowering interest rates takes effect through the monetary policy transmission mechanism.
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
December 21, 2023
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Exploring global value and supply chains

The things we buy come out of complex production chains that span the globe. Understanding these connections is crucial for today's economies.
Patrick Alexander
Patrick Alexander
Chris D'Souza
Chris D'Souza
Yuko Imura
Yuko Imura
Lena Suchanek
Lena Suchanek
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 30, 2023
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Canada’s regional economies

Strength from diversity
David Amirault
David Amirault
Matthieu Verstraete
Matthieu Verstraete
Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 30, 2023
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Household differences and why they matter

Differences in income, wealth and debt across households are important—for the economy, for the health of the financial system and for monetary policy.
Sharon Kozicki
Sharon Kozicki
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
July 4, 2022
The Economy, Plain and Simple

The payoffs of higher education

More education typically leads to higher pay, but as more people become educated, wages can decrease. Your education choices significantly affect your future earning potential.
Youngmin Park
Youngmin Park
Gabriela Galassi
Gabriela Galassi
Natalia Kyui
Natalia Kyui
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
October 7, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Our COVID-19 response: Large-scale asset purchases

The Bank of Canada has taken many actions to support Canadians since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. These include large-scale asset purchases—buying a substantial amount of government bonds and other financial assets. Our purchases serve two purposes. They help key financial markets work properly, and they can help increase spending in the economy. This leads to more employment and stronger economic growth.
Paul Beaudry
Paul Beaudry
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
August 25, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

A road map to payment systems

Your money on the move
Paul Miller
Paul Miller
Ariel Olivares
Ariel Olivares
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
July 6, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Our COVID-19 response: Navigating diverse economic impacts

The pandemic and related measures to control the spread of the virus have deeply affected Canadians and the Canadian economy. The impacts have been different across sectors and regions. The economic recovery will also vary across the country as local economies start to reopen.
Lawrence L. Schembri
Lawrence L. Schembri
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 30, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Our COVID-19 response: Supporting operations

When the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic became clear, the Bank moved quickly to adapt its internal operations and support business continuity in our financial system.
Filipe Dinis
Filipe Dinis
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 29, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Our COVID-19 response: Keeping markets liquid

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada, the Bank of Canada acted quickly. We needed to make sure the financial system worked well enough that credit could continue to flow. That meant addressing shortages of liquidity in financial markets—the backbone for lending and borrowing in the economy.
Toni Gravelle
Toni Gravelle
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 10, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

What’s behind your mortgage rate

Here’s what determines the interest rate on your mortgage—and why that rate can go up and down.
Yang Xu
Yang Xu
Yi Zheng
Yi Zheng
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
May 27, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Our COVID-19 response: Policy actions

In the days and weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic came to Canada, the Bank of Canada has been taking action to ensure our economy and financial system are weathering the unprecedented shock of the shutdown.
Timothy Lane
Timothy Lane
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
May 22, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Evaluating our approach to monetary policy

Inflation targeting has been successful in Canada over the past 30 years. But is it the best we can do? The Bank of Canada asks itself, and Canadians, that question every five years.
James (Jim) C. MacGee
James (Jim) C. MacGee
Rhys R. Mendes
Rhys R. Mendes
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
March 6, 2020
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Climate change is a big issue for central banks

Climate change is transforming the economy and financial system
Erik Ens
Erik Ens
Adrian Guerin
Adrian Guerin
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
November 19, 2019
The Economy, Plain and Simple

How Canadians pay for things

From cash to contactless cards—what’s in our wallets?
Kim Huynh
Kim Huynh
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
October 24, 2019
The Economy, Plain and Simple

The road to digital money

From beaver pelts to paper money to digital currencies
Stephen Murchison
Stephen Murchison
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
April 26, 2019
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Making cents of wages

Ever wonder how your wages are determined?
Russell Barnett
Russell Barnett
José Dorich
José Dorich
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
January 31, 2019
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Navigating digital disruption and the economy

Technology can enhance efficiency and help create new jobs, but challenges like automation's impact on employment also need careful consideration and proactive solutions.
Eric Santor
Eric Santor
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
October 16, 2018
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Keeping the financial system healthy

We are all better off if the financial system can weather a storm or two. And every one of us plays a role in keeping it that way.
Joshua Slive
Joshua Slive
Donald Coletti
Donald Coletti
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
October 16, 2018
The Economy, Plain and Simple

The benefits of freer trade

Freer trade lowers prices and boosts economies, yet not everyone benefits equally. Fair policies are essential for balanced growth and widespread prosperity.
Stephen Murchison
Stephen Murchison
Alex Chernoff
Alex Chernoff
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
September 28, 2018
Speeches and appearances Remarks

Let Me Be Clear: From Transparency to Trust and Understanding

Governor Poloz talks about how the Bank is improving communications with the public and helping financial markets understand its monetary policy approach.
Stephen S. Poloz
Stephen S. Poloz
Content Type(s): Press, Remarks, Speeches and appearances
June 27, 2018
The Economy, Plain and Simple

Welcome to The Economy, Plain and Simple

The economy starts with you.
Donald Coletti
Donald Coletti
Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple
September 28, 2018
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