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Black Friday Nov. 27: Wait for It or Skip It? Canadians Plan to Spend 6.5% Less

  CANADIAN MONEY BRIEF • NOVEMBER 14, 2026 Black Friday lands on Nov. 27, and nearly half of Canadians have been holding off purchases to wait for it. But with budgets shrinking and borrowing costs higher, waiting only pays if the deal is real and the bill gets paid. Quick take: Canadians plan to spend an average of $911 this holiday season, down 6.5% from last year. Black Friday is still the day most plan around. The smart move is not to skip it or blindly chase it, but to decide before the sales what you need, what it should cost, and how you'll pay. Budgets are shrinking, but Black Friday isn't The Retail Council of Canada and Leger surveyed 2,500 Canadians between Aug. 21 and Sept. 4. The average planned holiday budget came in at $911 , down $64 from $975 a year ago. More than half of respondents (56%) said inflation or economic instability is weighing on their outlook. Yet the big sale days are doing the opposite of shrinking. 88% rank Black Friday among their top three...

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Trump Administration Initiates Major Federal Workforce Reduction


In a significant move, the Trump administration has issued a memo directing federal agencies to develop plans for large-scale layoffs. This directive is part of President Donald Trump's broader effort to downsize the federal workforce, which he has often described as bloated and inefficient.

The memo, distributed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), requires agencies to submit their plans for a reduction in force (RIF) by March 13. These plans will not only lay off employees but also eliminate their positions altogether, potentially leading to extensive changes in how the government functions.

Russell Vought, director of the OMB, emphasized the need for a more efficient government, stating, "The federal government is costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt. At the same time, it is not producing results for the American public".

The memo comes as Trump prepares for the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, with Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, playing a key advisory role. The administration's goal is to streamline operations and improve productivity, even if it means significant workforce reductions.

This move has already sparked protests among federal workers, who fear the impact of these layoffs on their livelihoods and the overall functioning of government services. The coming weeks will reveal how these plans unfold and their broader implications for the federal workforce and public services.






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