The economy started off 2026 in what economists called a 'technical recession', but a huge bounce-back at the start of the second quarter has raised some eyebrows about the validity of the Statistics Canada numbers in the first place.

Host Mike Eppel speaks to LJ Valencia, an economist at Desjardins and co-author of a study called 'Diagnosing the Data Quality Crisis'. They discuss the cutbacks at the government data agency, the implications of questionable information for policy makers, and just how much we could trust the data.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

It’s now the biggest IPO in history – when Space X hit the US market this month, it made CEO Elon Musk a trillionaire on day one. But there are still many questions about the company and its plans for the future without any current stream of revenue.

The stock also hit a few bumps recently, with the company losing $600 billion dollars in market cap over a 3-day losing streak.

Host Kris McCusker speaks to Alison Kemper, Associate Professor in the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Department at Toronto Metropolitan University, to discuss why this was such a big deal, what might happen next and why you may want to rethink investing in the company.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

Big players in the artificial intelligence space like OpenAI or Anthropic continue to take up tons of conversational space, whether it's about how much they're worth, how much they spend, and how much it takes to maintain their systems. Often left out of the conversations, though, are whether or not their investments could be a net benefit to the economy.

Host Mike Eppel speaks to Raj Juneja, President of Cisco Systems Canada, about the company's leadership role in AI infrastructure, what he’s hearing from CEOs about the growth payback from investing in AI, and how building trust and data security is key to Canadian user adoption.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

Kevin Warsh will officially take over as the head of the US central bank on Wednesday – but it’s not clear how his term will play out.

In today's episode of In This Economy?!, host Kris McCusker speaks to Scott Anderson, Chief US Economist for BMO Capital Markets - based in San Francisco, California about how the Fed might look different under Warsh and what could be coming during the early part of his term.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

Following a negative performance for economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, the Canadian economy fell into what's been described as a "technical recession". While the headline was pounced on for political debate, with such a small decline (just a 0.1% contraction) and some parts of the economy still doing quite well, economists are downplaying the significance of all this recession talk.

Nevertheless, under the weight of the trade war with the U.S., there are a lot of questions around the recent signals by the Bank of Canada even talking about hiking interest rates and whether the central bank will be changing its message to the markets next week with it's policy announcement on June 10th.

Today on In this economy?!, host Mike Eppel speaks with Royce Mendes, the managing director and head of macro strategy at Desjardins, about this so-called "recession", and what the consequences of reading too much into it might be.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

A recent survey shows many Canadians are scaling back their spending on vacations this summer as life continues to get more expensive. And while it’s not surprising, experts say it presents a really unique opportunity to re-examine your finances overall to prioritize things like trips.

This week on "In This Economy?!" Co-Host Kris McCusker speaks to Sumaiya Bhula, Senior Manager, Saving, and Investing Journey at TD Bank for tips and tricks to make the most of your paycheque – and score yourself a getaway.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

You've likely heard a lot about crypto currencies. Now, there's something called "stablecoin". Think of it as the next wave of digital payment systems. But, how does it work? Who controls it? And is it something that consumers need to pay attention to for everyday banking? In today's episode of "In This Economy?!", co-host Mike Eppel is joined by Laure Fouin, an Associate General Counsel at Coinbase Canada for a tutorial on the future of digital money and why Fouin believes it's something Canada needs to grow the economy.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

"The K-shaped economy." From housing, to productivity, to wages, it's a phrase you hear more and more often these days. But what exactly does it mean? And how is it effecting your wallet?

In this episode of In This Economy?!, co-host Kris Kris McCusker is speaking to economist Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work, to find out.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

During the course of a year that saw heavy flight delays and cancellations, crowded airports and rising ticket prices and baggage fees, airlines in North America still managed to deliver stand-out passenger experiences. The JD power 2026 North America airline satisfaction study shows the overall satisfaction rate up 8 points (on a 1,000-point scale) year over year, with improvement occurring across all segments. However, as airfares have begun to skyrocket in 2026, airlines may soon find it difficult to offset high costs with great service,   and customers can expect to see a lot of new fees this summer for fuel surcharges and checked bags. So, will travellers balk at higher prices or if they do travel, will they be starting their vacation in a lousy mood?  

In this episode of In This Economy?!, host Mike Eppel talks to Michael Taylor, senior managing director of travel, hospitality, retail and customer service at JD power, to discuss their recent findings, and what it could mean going forward. 

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!  

Is Canada’s housing market in a correction? One economist thinks so – for a variety of reasons.

Our housing market posted its weakest quarter in three years, with home sales down nearly 10 per cent compared to the previous period - according to the Canadian Real Estate Association.

And rates are not likely to change anytime soon but that’s only part of the story.

Host Kris McCusker speaks to David-Alexandre Brassard, Chief Economist at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, for his take on what’s contributing to the stall and why come government programs won’t really help.

Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy?   We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you the answers you need.  Email us at: [email protected]. Thank you for listening!