Thursday, July 9, 2026 Every July, a wave of federal benefit payments resets for the new benefit year — and 2026 brings one of the biggest shifts in years. Between a permanent 25% boost to the old GST/HST credit, a fresh Canada Child Benefit increase, and the largest quarterly OAS bump of the year, millions of Canadian households will see different numbers land in their accounts this month. Here's what actually changed, and what to check in your own CRA account. The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . It's not a new program from scratch — it runs on the same CRA infrastructure and eligibility rules — but the payment amounts are 25% higher, and that increase is locked in for five years. The first CGEB payment went out on July 3, 2026. Under the new structure: A single individual with no children can receive up to roughly $679 per year (about $170 per quart...
May Housing Market: Sales Decline Amid Record High Prices
In May, sales of previously owned homes declined for the third consecutive month as prices hit an all-time high. Year-over-year sales were down by 2.8%¹. The median home price in the US reached $419,300, contributing to the slowdown in home sales due to elevated interest rates.
Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), expressed surprise at the lack of a spring recovery. Only the Midwest saw an increase in home sales, while other regions remained flat or experienced monthly declines. Despite the market's softer conditions, homes still received multiple offers, and first-time buyers' share of purchases surpassed 30% for the second straight month³. It's a complex market situation, but I hope this summary sheds some light on the current trends!
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