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5 Things to Know Today (Oct. 1): Minimum Wage Hike, Cooler U.S. Inflation, Oil Below $100

  Thursday October 1, 2026 A new quarter, a higher minimum wage in Ontario and a softer inflation read south of the border. Here are the five things that matter to your wallet today. 1 Ontario's minimum wage rises to $17.95 today Ontario's general minimum wage climbs 35 cents, from $17.60 to $17.95 an hour, as of October 1 — a roughly 2% bump tied to Ontario's CPI. The student rate goes to $16.90 (from $16.60) and the homeworker rate to $19.70. A full-time worker at 40 hours a week earns about $718 a week before deductions. Federally regulated workers already have an $18.15 floor, which has applied since April 1. What it means for you: If you pay anyone by the hour — a cleaner, a part-time helper, a seasonal worker — hours worked from today forward must be paid at no less than $17.95, even if the pay period started in September. Workers should check their next paycheque. 2 Cooler U.S. inflation eases the pressure on rate hikes The Fed's preferred inflation gauge came i...

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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.


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