Cost of Living

The U.S. used to be pretty hands off, let the market do its thing. Now it wants to be the puppet master. So what happened? Also, we explain why advent calendars have become so commercial and we talk to a historian about why certain toys catch lightening in a bottle. Remember Tickle Me Elmo?

In this discussion, reporter Danielle Nerman shares insights on why Canadians are opting to repair their aging cars amid soaring new vehicle prices. Economist Mark Blyth analyzes the unequal impacts of inflation across different demographics, linking personal inflation experiences to rising political polarization. Journalist Leah Hendry guides listeners through using a personal inflation calculator, highlighting real stories from Canadians like Sarah and Richard, whose experiences illustrate the profound effects of inflation on everyday life.

Staying out 'til the wee hours of the morning? That's not happening as much anymore, and restaurants and bars are feeling it. Also, how to find Lego for 2 cents at Walmart and author Danny Funt talks about his new book: Everybody Loses: the Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling.

A lot of people are calling critical minerals a major opportunity for Canada, but we explain why their real benefit may be more strategic than economic. We ask why the price of toilet paper is so d@#m hard to figure out and talk to author David Thomas about his new biography of Prem Watsa — the richest, savviest Canadian you've never heard of who is behind one of Canada's most successful companies.

David Chilton, author of the bestseller The Wealthy Barber, discusses his updated book and shares timeless advice like 'pay yourself first' and the magic of compound interest. Leah Hendry reports on the rising trend of buying Canadian and the nuances of local procurement amid price debates. Danielle Nerman dives into Gen Z's 'vibe investing,' exploring how social media influences their choices, mixing ETFs with speculative stocks. Together, they unravel the complexities of modern investing and consumer habits.

If it feels like the price of everything from flights to juice boxes never stay put — you're not wrong. And artificial intelligence could make those prices even more slippery. Also, we look at the rewards and risk of credit card churning and why so many people are suddenly talking about digital sovereignty.We'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

AI has all the ingredients needed for a bubble. So if it pops, could it put us all at risk? We also revisit a Halloween favourite about buying and selling haunted houses and we speak to author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic about why being yourself at work is overratedWe'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

Creative destruction is a way of explaining how new ideas destroy the old in an economy. In an ideal world, these changes make us all healthier and wealthier, right? Right?! With AI promising to upend the economy, we speak with Avi Goldfarb from the U of T's Creative Destruction Lab about how to prepare for it. We also look at why more First Nations are getting into the housing business and why cheap eats are so hard to find at the airport.We'd love to hear from you! Complete our listener survey here.

This week, we answer some of your burning questions about the economy. Like, why does Canada import stuff that we produce here? Should you pay in CAD when travelling abroad? And, how expensive is the #rvlife?Fill out our listener survey here. We appreciate your input! 

The post-WWII rules-based order has been good to Canada. International trade agreements and cooperation have brought peace and prosperity. But with Trump now tearing up the playbook, will we have to follow suit? Or can we find new partners who still want to play the old game the old way? Also, why more North Americans are willing to splurge on business class flights and why long waitlists are pushing Canadians to shop for new hips abroad.We value your input. Fill out our listener questionnaire here!