The Economy, Plain and Simple

• August 27, 2024

  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 Topic(s): Inflation and prices, Productivity
• July 9, 2024

  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 Topic(s): Exchange rates, Inflation and prices, Inflation targets, Labour markets
• June 26, 2024

  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 19, 2024

  What you pay for at the pump

  

  Kun Mo

  Several factors help set gasoline prices: the costs of crude oil, refining, transporting, retailing and marketing gas, as well as taxes.

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Exchange rates, Inflation and prices, Market structure and pricing
• December 21, 2023

  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 Topic(s): Inflation and prices, Inflation targets, Interest rates, Monetary policy, Monetary policy framework, Monetary policy transmission
• June 30, 2023

  Exploring global value and supply chains

  

  Patrick Alexander, Chris D'Souza, Yuko Imura, Lena Suchanek

  The things we buy come out of complex production chains that span the globe. Understanding these connections is crucial for today's economies.

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Business fluctuations and cycles, Firm dynamics, International topics, Trade integration
• June 30, 2023

  Canada’s regional economies

  

  David Amirault, Matthieu Verstraete, Sarah Miller

  Strength from diversity

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Business fluctuations and cycles, Labour markets, Regional economic developments, Trade integration
• July 4, 2022

  Household differences and why they matter

  Sharon Kozicki

  Differences in income, wealth and debt across households are important—for the economy, for the health of the financial system and for monetary policy.

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Central bank research, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Domestic demand and components, Economic models, Housing, Inflation and prices, Labour markets, Monetary policy, Monetary policy framework, Recent economic and financial developments
• October 7, 2020

  The payoffs of higher education

  

  Youngmin Park, Gabriela Galassi, Natalia Kyui

  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.

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Labour markets, Potential output, Productivity
• August 25, 2020

  Our COVID-19 response: Large-scale asset purchases

  Paul Beaudry

  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.

  Content Type(s): Publications, The Economy, Plain and Simple Topic(s): Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Debt management, Financial markets, Financial stability, Inflation and prices, Interest rates, Market structure and pricing, Monetary policy, Monetary policy transmission