Federal Reserve research suggests consumer spending is the primary driver of the U.S. economy
Canadians said they're reducing spending, putting off buying big-ticket items
The unemployment rate fell to 6.5%: StatCan
Wealthier households, however, have seen their purchasing power rise since 2022
Both Trump, Harris have campaigned on policies that could cause uncertainty for Canadian trade
But the piecemeal nature of the plans appeared to disappoint investors
The result came as total exports fell 1% in the month: StatCan
Other economic factors, government policies offset the effect of higher rates
The world’s fourth largest economy grew at an annual rate of 2.9%
Falling energy prices providing relief from burst of inflation that reached double digits