Data Stories
AnalysisDeep dives into the issues shaping Canada. Every chart sourced from Statistics Canada. Every narrative generated from the data.
How the Bank of Canada's Rate Decisions Affect You
From mortgage payments to grocery bills, the Bank of Canada’s rate decisions ripple through every Canadian’s wallet.
The Most and Least Expensive Cities in Canada
Canada’s four largest cities are experiencing starkly different inflation trajectories. Montreal has overtaken Vancouver and Toronto to become the most expensive, driven by housing and food costs. Meanwhile, Calgary remains the most affordable, though its costs are rising faster than in previous years. These divergences reflect shifting economic pressures and migration patterns across the country.
Housing vs. Income: The Affordability Gap
Canada’s housing crisis isn’t just about high prices—it’s about income failing to keep pace. Over the past five years, new home prices have climbed 11%, while average hourly wages rose 36%. The result? A widening affordability gap that’s reshaping generational wealth, forcing more Canadians to rent, and deepening divides between those who own and those who don’t.
Why Your Groceries Cost More
Canadian families are spending more at the grocery store than ever before, with food prices rising 11% over five years—far outpacing wage growth and general inflation. This data story breaks down why your groceries cost more, which food categories are driving the surge, and whether paycheques are keeping up.
Canada's National Debt: A Trillion-Dollar Problem
Canada’s national debt has more than doubled in a decade, surging from $600 billion to over $1.3 trillion. With interest payments now consuming more than $50 billion annually—more than the entire federal education budget—this trillion-dollar problem is reshaping Canada’s fiscal landscape and every taxpayer’s future.
How Canada Compares to Other G7 Nations
Canada’s economy is growing at half the pace of its G7 rivals, with stubbornly high unemployment and inflation outpacing most peers. After a post-pandemic rebound, Canada’s productivity and wage growth have stalled, leaving households feeling the squeeze. The data shows a country struggling to keep up with global benchmarks.
What Canadians Pay for Gas and Energy
Canadians are paying 15% more for gasoline than a year ago and 14% more than five years ago, even as overall inflation has risen by just 19% over the same period. This divergence reflects the volatile interplay of global oil markets, domestic taxes, and climate policies—leaving households to navigate a patchwork of regional prices and policy impacts.
Canada's Youth Unemployment Crisis
Canada’s youth unemployment rate has surged to 34.7%, more than five times the national average, exposing a generational crisis that has deepened since COVID-19. While overall unemployment hovers near pre-pandemic levels, young Canadians are trapped in a part-time, low-wage cycle, with immigration and economic policies failing to ease the strain. The data reveals a widening gap that threatens long-term prosperity for an entire generation.
What Canadians Are Buying — and Not Buying
Canada’s retail sector grew just 0.02% in January 2026, the slowest monthly increase in years, as stubborn inflation and modest wage gains leave households treading water. While nominal spending hit $34.7 billion, the real story is in what Canadians are cutting back on — and what they’re still splurging on. From groceries to electronics, the data reveals a nation recalibrating its spending habits under economic pressure.
How Interest Rates Are Reshaping Canada's Economy
Canada's interest rate rollercoaster has reshaped the economy, cooling inflation but straining household budgets. After historic hikes in 2022-23, the Bank of Canada's pivot to cuts in 2024 brought mortgage relief—yet growth is slowing. The data reveals a nation caught between relief and uncertainty.
Immigration and Canada's Changing Population
Canada’s population surged past 16 million by the end of 2023, driven largely by immigration. But as the federal government scales back targets, the effects are rippling through housing markets and job markets. From skyrocketing shelter costs to rising unemployment, the data reveals a nation transformed — and now at a turning point.
The State of Canada's Job Market
Canada's unemployment rate has edged up to 5.5% in January 2026, reflecting a cooling labour market after years of pandemic recovery. While overall joblessness remains low by historical standards, youth unemployment has surged to 6.7%, exposing structural vulnerabilities. Wage growth is struggling to keep pace with inflation, and the rise of part-time work signals shifting employment patterns.
The Cost of Living in Canada
Canadians are spending more on nearly everything in 2026, with inflation outpacing wage growth over the past five years. Food, shelter, and gasoline prices have surged, leaving households to navigate a cost-of-living crisis that shows no signs of easing.
Canada's Housing Crisis by the Numbers
Canada’s housing crisis worsened in 2024, with shelter costs remaining stubbornly high even as home prices dipped and construction slowed. Mortgage rates soared to historic highs, pricing out first-time buyers and keeping rental demand at fever pitch. The data reveals a market out of sync with economic reality, where affordability is now the defining challenge for millions of Canadians.