The Economy, Plain and Simple

Explaining economic issues that matter to you

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.
December 21, 2023

Linking the chains

The things we buy come out of complex production chains that span the globe.
Patrick Alexander
Patrick Alexander
Chris D'Souza
Chris D'Souza
Yuko Imura
Yuko Imura
Lena Suchanek
Lena Suchanek
June 30, 2023
David Amirault
David Amirault
Matthieu Verstraete
Matthieu Verstraete
Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller
June 30, 2023

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
July 4, 2022

Learning and earning

The payoffs of higher education
Youngmin Park
Youngmin Park
Gabriela Galassi
Gabriela Galassi
Natalia Kyui
Natalia Kyui
October 7, 2020

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
August 25, 2020
Paul Miller
Paul Miller
Ariel Olivares
Ariel Olivares
July 6, 2020

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
June 30, 2020

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
June 29, 2020

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
June 10, 2020

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
May 27, 2020

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
May 22, 2020

Under the microscope

Evaluating our approach to monetary policy
James (Jim) C. MacGee
James (Jim) C. MacGee
Rhys R. Mendes
Rhys R. Mendes
March 6, 2020

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
November 19, 2019

How Canadians pay for things

From cash to contactless cards—what’s in our wallets?
Kim Huynh
Kim Huynh
October 24, 2019

The road to digital money

From beaver pelts to paper money to digital currencies
Stephen Murchison
Stephen Murchison
April 26, 2019

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
February 21, 2019

Making cents of wages

Ever wonder how your wages are determined?
Russell Barnett
Russell Barnett
José Dorich
José Dorich
January 31, 2019

Going digital

The future has no analogue.
Eric Santor
Eric Santor
October 16, 2018

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
October 16, 2018

Trading up

How countries benefit from freer trade.
Stephen Murchison
Stephen Murchison
Alex Chernoff
Alex Chernoff
September 28, 2018

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
June 27, 2018
Donald Coletti
Donald Coletti
September 28, 2018