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5 Things to Know Today: Oil Surges, Tariffs Land Tomorrow, Your Gas Tax Break Survives

  Monday, September 7, 2026 — Labour Day | Canadian Money Brief Markets are closed for the holiday, but the week ahead is loaded. Here are five things worth knowing before you head back to your desk tomorrow. 1. Oil Hits a Five-Week High as the Iran Conflict Escalates Crude climbed to $92.06 US/barrel on Saturday — up 17.75% over the past month and nearly 48% year over year — after Iran and the United States exchanged missile strikes this week. Israel's defence minister has threatened "crippling" attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure, the EU has formally joined the US-led sanctions campaign, and US Vice President JD Vance said Washington won't hold peace talks until Iran stops targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz. What it means for you: Even with the federal gas tax break extended (see #4), pump prices track the price of crude itself. If your tank's getting low, filling up early this week may beat whatever the Strait of Hormuz situation does to prices by...

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U.S. Economy Ends 2023 with Strong Job and Wage Growth


The U.S. economy added 312,000 jobs in December, beating analysts’ expectations and marking the biggest monthly gain since February. The unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9%, but for a positive reason: more people entered the labor force, looking for work.

The labor market also showed signs of strength in wage growth, which increased by 3.2% over the year, the fastest pace since 2009. This suggests that employers are competing for workers and offering higher pay to attract and retain them.

The strong job and wage numbers cap off a solid year for the U.S. economy, which grew by an estimated 3% in 2023, the highest rate since 2015. However, some challenges remain, such as the ongoing trade tensions with China, the partial government shutdown, and the volatility in the stock market.

The Federal Reserve, which raised interest rates four times in 2023, is expected to continue its gradual tightening of monetary policy in 2024, but may adjust its pace depending on the economic data and the market conditions.



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U.S. Job Growth Exceeds Expectations in December, Wages Rise Solidly

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added 514,000 jobs in December, exceeding expectations. The unemployment rate fell to 3.9%. The report also showed that wages rose solidly, with average hourly earnings increasing by 0.5%. This is a positive sign for the U.S. economy, which has been recovering from the pandemic.

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