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Big Six Banks Raise Fixed Mortgage Rates: What Your Renewal Costs Now

  Canadian Money Brief • Mortgages Updated Saturday, October 17, 2026 If your mortgage term ends this winter, the rate you saw advertised in August is probably gone. All six of Canada’s big banks have raised fixed rates since early September, and the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched its policy rate in almost a year. That disconnect catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Your fixed mortgage rate doesn’t follow the Bank of Canada. It follows the bond market. And bond yields have been climbing on oil-driven inflation worries, which means the people feeling it first right now are the ones opening a renewal letter. The numbers at a glance Up to 0.50 pt in fixed-rate increases at the big banks in about five weeks • BoC policy rate still 2.25% • Big bank prime still 4.45% • About $110 a month more on a $400,000 balance from a half-point jump How far have the big banks moved? Depending on the term, some big bank fixed rates are up by as much as half a percentage point in roughly five week...

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Amazon Prime Day Sales Projected to Reach $14 Billion: A Shopping Extravaganza

 

Shoppers are gearing up for Amazon’s annual Prime Day, a two-day shopping event that’s expected to break records. According to projections from Adobe Analytics, a firm specializing in e-commerce transaction data, consumers are likely to spend approximately $14 billion during this year’s Prime Day.

What to Expect:

  • Date: Prime Day typically takes place in July, but this year, Amazon shifted it by five days on the calendar.
  • Sales Momentum: Day 1 of Prime Day 2023 already set a sales record, although Amazon doesn’t disclose total figures. Last year, shoppers spent $12.7 billion during Prime Day, a 6.1% increase from the previous year.
  • Back-to-School Bargains: Prime Day has become a season for savvy shoppers seeking deals on back-to-school essentials like clothing, electronics, and dorm supplies.
  • Competition: Rivals like Walmart and Target are launching their own July discounts to compete with Amazon’s shopping extravaganza.
  • Consumer Behavior: After years of high inflation, shoppers are now more willing to spend, using Prime Day as an opportunity to shop for back-to-school items.

In summary, Prime Day isn’t just about discounts; it’s a retail phenomenon that transforms July into a bargain-hunting season. As consumers flock to Amazon, other retailers are vying for a slice of the $38.8 billion projected to be spent on back-to-school merchandise this summer. So, get ready to click and save during this shopping bonanza! 

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