Thursday, July 9, 2026 Every July, a wave of federal benefit payments resets for the new benefit year — and 2026 brings one of the biggest shifts in years. Between a permanent 25% boost to the old GST/HST credit, a fresh Canada Child Benefit increase, and the largest quarterly OAS bump of the year, millions of Canadian households will see different numbers land in their accounts this month. Here's what actually changed, and what to check in your own CRA account. The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . It's not a new program from scratch — it runs on the same CRA infrastructure and eligibility rules — but the payment amounts are 25% higher, and that increase is locked in for five years. The first CGEB payment went out on July 3, 2026. Under the new structure: A single individual with no children can receive up to roughly $679 per year (about $170 per quart...
S&P/TSX Composite Closes Lower Amid Broader Losses
Canada’s main stock index, the S&P/TSX composite, closed lower on Friday, echoing the trend in U.S. markets. Despite earlier gains, the S&P/TSX composite index ended down 66.37 points at 21,875.79. The decline was driven by weakness in energy and industrials sectors.
Statistics Canada reported that real gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.3% in April, but the early read for May showed growth slowing to 0.1% for the month. Consumers in Canada appear to be pulling back, impacted by higher interest rates over the past two years. Portfolio manager Hadiza Djataou noted that consumption is taking a hit, influencing stock performance.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 45.20 points at 39,118.86, the S&P 500 index dropped 22.39 points to 5,460.48, and the Nasdaq composite fell 126.08 points to 17,732.60. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge indicated a 2.6% rise in consumer prices for May, easing from April’s 2.7% reading.
The Canadian dollar traded at 73.06 cents US, and while Canada’s GDP data didn’t significantly impact interest rate expectations, Djataou anticipates further pressure on the loonie due to diverging economic trajectories between Canada and the U.S.
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