Cost of Living·Full Episode

Deflated by inflation — and paying good money to do nothing with your money

Supply chain backlogs are causing issues for Canadians trying to buy stuff — and causing inflation to go up. Plus a look at why Canadian businesses hire enough staff to keep the doors open.

The Cost of Living for September 19, 2021

Supply chain issues don't just mean bare shelves, they can mean hire prices. Plus Canadian businesses are having trouble hiring people, and what is an inactivity fee on your online account anyway? (Shutterstock/Photo illustration: CBC)
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Help wanted — really, REALLY wanted!

It's more difficult than ever to find good help these days. Or any help, for some businesses.

Canada's job market is in a quandary. Employers want to hire, and they have jobs to fill. Unemployment numbers say people are looking for work. So why are so many jobs still sitting empty?

Producer Brandie Weikle meets one shop owner who is pulling out all the stops, including offering employees profit sharing and extended benefits, and still coming up short.

How financial institutions can literally charge you for doing nothing

PayPal recently announced it will start charging customers up to $20 a year, if they don't log in or use their accounts for at least a year.

While it's a new charge for Canadian customers of the payment service, it's not unusual for many financial institutions.

Anis Heydari looks at the inactivity fee, and who else is in the business of charging you for not doing business.

Supply chain backlogs and how they are hitting consumers' wallets

18 months into the pandemic, Canadian businesses are still dealing with supply chain headaches.

That means waiting months for that mid-century modern sofa you ordered. More importantly for many, it also means higher prices.  

Paul Haavardsrud explains why shipping backlogs and other supply chain issues are pushing up inflation.

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