What September's 68,000 Job Losses Signal for the Canadian Economy

News Analysis Canada's labour market has shed 110,000 jobs over the past two months, but with rising energy costs adding to inflationary pressures, it remains to be seen whether the Bank of Canada will cut interest rates to support a softening economy or raise them, with implications for mortgage rates. Statistics Canada announced on Oct. 9 that employment fell by 68,000 in September, following a loss of 42,000 jobs in August. The unemployment rate rose from 6.4 percent to 6.5 percent. The job losses come amid uncertainty over Canada’s trade relationship with the United States and rising energy costs, creating a dilemma for the Bank of Canada: whether to lower interest rates to support a weakening economy or raise them to contain inflation....