The Cost of Living on the cost of stuff: payday loans, baby formula, glasses and ... modern monetary theory?

This week, our team takes on questions from our listeners, who wanted business mysteries solved as we launch a new season of The Cost of Living.

So we tackle the big mysteries on your mind!

• The Cost of Living has a new timeslot!
  Catch us Sundays at 12:00 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador).
  We also repeat the following Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in most provinces.

Why has the price of baby formula changed so much over the years? Producer Falice Chin takes that one on and finds out that yes, prices are jumping and it's not your imagination … but it's not a new problem. Listen to the segment here.

Why are eyeglasses so expensive, anyway?  Anis Heydari looked into it (pun intended) and found it's not always about what you are buying, but who you are buying it from. Listen to the segment here.

Why are payday loan interest rates allowed to be so high? Isn't it illegal? Well, yes — and no, as Richard Raycraft discovered. Read more here or listen to the segment here.

• Don't feel like waiting for your dose of The Cost of Living on Sundays?
  To listen anytime, click here to download the show to your podcast player of choice.
  Subscribe to get episodes automatically downloaded to your device.

And just what is modern monetary theory, anyway? You may have heard the letters MMT tossed around as government deficits increase in the wake of the COVID-19 economic fallout. Paul Haavardsrud tells you more about what it means, without having to set foot in an economics classroom. Listen here.

Click 'Listen' at the top of this page to hear the whole episode or download the CBC Listen app.