Bestieeee, okay, so like, I’m totally down to give you the full valley-girl energy, but also actually explain why Canada’s cost of living has gone full “omg why is everything suddenly $19.99??”. So buckle up, because this is gonna be, like, educational and sparkly.
So, Canada right now? It’s giving “girl math but make it national economics.” Everything is expensive, everyone is stressed, and literally nobody knows how we got here without collectively blacking out. But there are actual reasons — like, real, boring adult reasons — behind this mess.
First off: pandemic hangover vibes. COVID wrecked supply chains HARD. Factories shut down, shipping costs exploded, and everyone started panic-buying like we were prepping for the apocalypse. This meant fewer goods, higher demand, and prices that were like, “heehee, I’m gonna jump.” Even after the world reopened, those costs didn’t just magically evaporate — they kinda stuck around like glitter after a craft day.
Second: housing, girl. HOUSING. Canada basically forgot to build enough homes for, like, a decade. Immigration levels went up (which is cute and amazing and very Canadian), but construction didn’t keep pace. So now you’ve got too many people chasing too few apartments, and prices climbed faster than a girl running to Sephora during a sale. Add in low-interest rates during the pandemic that made borrowing super cheap? It lit the housing market on FIRE. And now interest rates are high again, pushing mortgages and rent even higher. Like, choose a struggle!
Third: the Bank of Canada doing its chaotic ex routine. So inflation started spiking, and the Bank of Canada was like, “Oh no bestie, we gotta cool this down,” and started raising rates super aggressively. The goal was to slow spending so prices would drop, which makes sense… but also made mortgages, loans, and credit cards hella expensive. Like, thanks king, but also please relax??
Fourth cause: global drama, obviously. Wars, energy shortages, and shipping chaos pushed up the cost of fuel and food worldwide. Canada imports tons of stuff, so if global prices go up, ours do too. It’s like being friends with someone who makes bad decisions, and suddenly you’re also in trouble.
Fifth: corporate pricing vibes — and okay, this part gets messy. Some companies genuinely had higher costs. Others saw an opportunity and were like “hmm what if we raise prices… just because?” So now everyone’s arguing about “greedflation,” which is basically corporations giving villain era.
But here’s the balanced part: wages have risen a bit, inflation is cooling, and some prices are starting to chill — slowly, like they had too much wine. The economy isn’t totally doomed; it’s just in its “chaotic girl autumn” era.
Still, Canadians are left dealing with the aftermath: groceries that hurt your soul, rent that makes you question your life path, and utilities that act like they’re auditioning for Real Housewives.
Anyway babe, the cost of living crisis isn’t happening because Canada is cursed — it’s like, a whole tangled mix of global chaos, policy choices, supply chain drama, and housing shortages. Understanding it doesn’t make avocados cheaper… but at least it helps the math feel less personal, ya know?
XOXO,
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