Cost of Living

Hallmark's holiday movie formula is as polished as a glass snow globe. And why not? Between product placements and sponsorships, the movies are a winner for the card company. We take a look at the business sense behind the sensibility. Also, we make a spirited defense of IRL shopping and ask: How did Canada's economy weather a stormy 2025?

Pricey VIP experiences are increasingly for sale in places like theme parks, concert venues and ski resorts. So what does it mean for us to be divided into the haves and the have-mores? We examine what the sale of Warner Bros. could mean for the future of entertainment. And why are Canadians paying through le nez for French butter?

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?

Did you roll your eyes the last time someone said "inflation is coming down"? Yeah, that's fair. Your personal inflation rate can vary wildly depending on where you live, how old you are and whether you rent or own. We ask two Canadians to walk us through their personal inflation calculator and economist Mark Blyth explains how these differences may be partly responsible for the rise of polarization. Also, we dig into why Canadians are holding onto their cars longer.

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.