Skip to main content

Featured

5 Things to Know Today: Tariffs, a CPI Surprise, and the Mortgage Rate Gap

  July 21, 2026 A new round of US tariffs, a surprise inflation dip, and a widening gap between fixed and variable mortgage rates are all moving in different directions today. Here's what's happening and what it means for your money. 1. Washington hits Canada with new 50% tariffs on everyday goods The White House has announced fresh 50% tariffs on a wide list of Canadian exports, including wine, dairy, furniture, hockey equipment, cement, and clothing. The move is framed as retaliation over Canada's dairy quotas, car import rules, and provincial bans on US alcohol. The tariffs take effect August 19 and apply even to goods that would normally qualify duty-free under CUSMA, though energy, potash, fish, and critical minerals are exempt. What it means for you: This round targets export industries, not imports into Canada, so it won't directly raise shelf prices here the way a Canadian tariff on US goods would. The bigger risk is indirect — job pressure in affected sectors ...

article

US Futures Rise After CPI Data, Fed Signals

 

Investors are closely watching the stock market today as US futures tiptoe higher following the release of the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data. The Federal Reserve’s looming decision on interest rates adds to the anticipation.

Key Points:

  • CPI Snapshot: Economists expect the month-over-month Core CPI to have risen, providing insight into inflation trends.
  • Fed’s Stance: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has signaled that rate cuts are coming, despite inflation ticking up in February.
  • Market Reaction: S&P 500 futures climbed 0.3%, Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.6%, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained 0.2%.
  • Gold Surges: The gold price surpassed $2,200 an ounce for the first time.
  • Micron Technology Soars: Micron Technology shares surged as much as 18% in premarket trading due to strong demand from AI companies.

Stay tuned for further updates as the Fed’s double whammy—CPI and interest rate decisions—unfolds.


Comments