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5 Things to Know Today: Job Losses, Rate-Hike Bets, Mortgage Hikes and $104 Oil (Oct. 11)

  Canadian Money Brief • Sunday, October 11, 2026 Happy Thanksgiving weekend. Canadian stock markets are closed Monday, but the money news isn't taking a break. Here are the five things that matter for your wallet before the week starts. 1. Canada lost 68,300 jobs in September Statistics Canada reported a second straight monthly drop (August was -41,700), well short of the gain economists expected. The unemployment rate edged up to 6.5% from 6.4%, and the economy has now shed a net 41,200 jobs so far in 2026, wiping out the year's earlier gains. Most of the damage was in the public sector, while the private sector held up. Wages for permanent employees rose 2.3% year over year. Markets reacted by trimming bets on a Bank of Canada rate hike at its Oct. 28 meeting to roughly 25%, down from about 40% before the report, according to LSEG data cited by The Canadian Press. What it means for you: A hike on Oct. 28 looks less likely, which is good news for variable-rate mortgage and H...
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U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns of Approaching Debt Ceiling Crisis


Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has issued a stark warning that the United States could hit its debt ceiling as early as mid-January. In a letter to congressional leaders, Yellen stated that her agency would need to begin taking "extraordinary measures" to prevent the nation from breaching the debt limit. These measures are special accounting maneuvers intended to keep the government operating without defaulting on its obligations.

Yellen emphasized the urgency of the situation, urging Congress to act swiftly to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. The debt ceiling, which had been suspended until January 1, 2025, is expected to be reinstated on January 2, 2025. However, due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments, the Treasury does not expect to need to take extraordinary measures until January 14 to January 23.

The federal debt currently stands at approximately $36 trillion, a figure that has grown significantly over the years under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic has further increased government borrowing costs, making the situation even more critical.

Yellen's warning comes after President Joe Biden signed a bill last week that averted a government shutdown but did not address the debt ceiling issue. The bill was passed only after intense debate among Republicans over how to handle President-elect Donald Trump's demand to raise or suspend the debt limit.

As the new year approaches, the nation's fiscal health hangs in the balance, with lawmakers facing a critical decision on how to address the impending debt ceiling crisis.




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