The Economy, Plain and Simple
Explaining economic issues that matter to you
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.
Youngmin Park
Gabriela Galassi
Natalia Kyui
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
James (Jim) C. MacGee
Rhys R. Mendes
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
March 6, 2020
Climate change Is a big issue for central banks
Climate change is transforming the economy and financial system
How Canadians pay for things
From cash to contactless cards—what’s in our wallets?
The road to digital money
From beaver pelts to paper money to digital currenciesPrice check: Inflation in Canada
Why prices change, and what it means for the economy.
Sharon Kozicki
Jill Vardy
Laurence Savoie-Chabot
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
February 21, 2019
Russell Barnett
José Dorich
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
January 31, 2019
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
Donald Coletti
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
October 16, 2018
Stephen Murchison
Alex Chernoff
Content Types:
Publications,
The Economy, Plain and Simple
September 28, 2018
