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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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Stock Market Stumbles as Trump Reaffirms Tariffs

                                            

The stock market took a hit on Friday as President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.8%, the S&P 500 dropped by 0.5%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 0.3%.

Investors are concerned about the potential impact of these tariffs on the economy, as they could lead to increased costs for consumers and businesses. The White House confirmed that the tariffs, which include a 25% duty on goods from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, will take effect on Saturday.

Despite earlier optimism driven by solid earnings from Apple and an inflation reading that matched expectations, the tariff news overshadowed these positive developments. The uncertainty surrounding the tariffs has left Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell in a wait-and-see mode, with the potential for tariffs to inflame inflation being a key concern.

As the market closes, investors are bracing for the impact of these tariffs and the potential for further volatility in the coming days.




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