Saturday, September 5, 2026
A wild week wraps up with mixed signals: Canada's job market stumbled just as America's roared back, the TSX gave back some ground, and Tuesday brings a new round of retaliatory tariffs. Here's what actually matters for your wallet.
1. Canada Lost 42,000 Jobs in August — Unemployment Holds at 6.4%
Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey showed employment fell by 41,700 to 42,000 in August, a sharp reversal after July's 75,100-job surge and well short of the roughly 15,000-job gain economists expected. Full-time work took the biggest hit, down about 36,000, while the public sector shed jobs for a third straight month. Manufacturing was the lone bright spot, adding 22,000 positions. The unemployment rate held steady at 6.4% because the labour force shrank too, and wage growth cooled to just 2.0% year-over-year — the slowest pace since 2017 outside the pandemic.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Slower wage growth means smaller raises are more likely over the next year, and a softer labour market gives the Bank of Canada room to hold rates rather than hike — good news if you're carrying a variable-rate mortgage or line of credit. Economists are treating this as a one-month wobble, not a trend, so don't panic-adjust your budget yet.
2. US Jobs Blew Past Expectations — and It's Pulling the Loonie Down
South of the border, US nonfarm payrolls jumped by 162,000 in August, nearly triple the roughly 53,000-to-56,000 economists had forecast, while unemployment held at 4.1%. The surprise strength revived talk of a Federal Reserve rate hike this month and pushed the US dollar higher. USD/CAD climbed to about 1.3829 on the news, meaning the loonie lost ground even after the Bank of Canada's hawkish tone earlier in the week.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
A weaker loonie makes US shopping, cross-border trips, and anything priced in US dollars — from Amazon.com purchases to travel insurance — a little more expensive. If you're planning a US trip this fall, locking in currency now rather than waiting could save you a bit.
3. TSX Slips to 36,514, Snapping the Week's Rally
The S&P/TSX Composite closed Friday at 36,514, down 0.33% on the day, as materials, energy, and financials led losses. It's a step back from Thursday's 1.5% surge to 36,633.12, with big banks like TD and Scotiabank each shedding close to 1% and gold miners including Agnico Eagle and Barrick pulling back as gold prices eased. The catalyst: that blowout US jobs report raised the odds of a Fed rate hike, which tends to weigh on rate-sensitive stocks like banks.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
If you hold Canadian bank stocks in your TFSA or RRSP, expect some choppiness over the next few weeks as markets digest whether the Fed actually moves. One down day after a strong rally isn't a reason to change your investing plan — but it's worth checking your portfolio isn't overly concentrated in rate-sensitive sectors.
4. Retaliation Tariffs Land Tuesday — 700+ US Products, Up to 50%
Canada's counter-tariffs on the US officially take effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, per the Department of Finance. They cover roughly $27.6 billion (about US$19.9 billion) worth of American goods across more than 700 products, with rates of 15%, 25%, or 50% depending on the item, matching Washington's own tariffs dollar for dollar. Steel and aluminum duties double to 50%, and the list also hits dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
If you're shopping for major appliances, imported dairy products, or anything with US-sourced steel or aluminum (think: renovations, vehicles, some furniture), prices could start creeping up after Tuesday. If a big purchase in one of those categories is already on your list, this weekend or Monday may be the better time to buy.
5. Markets and Banks Are Closed Monday for Labour Day
A quick scheduling note: the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange, and Montreal Exchange are closed Monday, September 7 for Labour Day, along with most Canadian banks. Trading resumes Tuesday, September 8 — the same day the new retaliation tariffs kick in, so expect markets to react quickly once they reopen.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Bill payments, e-transfers, and cheque deposits scheduled for Monday may not clear until Tuesday. If you have a mortgage or loan payment due September 7, check with your bank about how the holiday affects processing to avoid a surprise.
That's your Friday-into-weekend wrap. Check back Tuesday for how markets react once the retaliation tariffs take effect and trading resumes after Labour Day.
Comments
Post a Comment