Cost of Living

As CUSMA negotiations approach, U.S. President Donald Trump is downplaying Canada's importance. Not to brag, but America still depends heavily on Canadian aluminum. Plus, feeling buried by your to-do list? Maybe it’s time to throw an “admin party.” And, we ask housing economist Mike Moffatt if falling home prices are a blip or a sign of larger change.

Artificial intelligence is making scams harder to spot and Canadians are losing millions every year to fraud. So is it worth it to pay for personal cyber risk insurance? Also, we explain why older job hunters are botoxing their resumes and ask: Could the global oil shock change the conversation around Canada's future as an energy superpower?

The war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have interrupted critical oil supply chains. Now gas prices are rising. Energy analyst Rory Johnston, who writes the Substack Commodity Context, explains what an oil shock could mean for the Canadian economy, and what might happen next.

Some services, like barbering and childcare, cost way more than they did in the past and keep going up in price. On the other hand, a lot of manufactured goods, like TV's, have become less expensive. And the "Baumol effect" could explain why. Plus, we look at the rise of extra spicy foods on restaurant menus and what's at stake as cargo ships sit idle near the Strait of Hormuz.

As Iran counter attacks by targeting energy infrastructure in neighbouring countries and threatening to shut off access to the Strait of Hormuz, we explore how Canada moves forward in a global economy dealing with even more chaos and uncertainty. Paul Haavardsrud talks to Stephanie Carvin, a professor of International Affairs at Carleton University.