Look for companies with improved balance sheets
Consumer prices rose 2.6% from a year earlier, up from 2.4% in September
Employment rose by a modest 15,000 jobs last month: StatCan
The central bank's next interest rate announcement is scheduled for Dec. 11
Steeper rates have increased the debt load of low- and middle-income households
The results came as total exports edged down 0.1% to $63.9B
Economists say the total was held down by the effects of strikes, hurricanes
Government reports that an inflation gauge closely watched by the Fed fell to its lowest level in three-and-a-half years
Job growth was held down in October by hurricanes and worker strikes
Consumer spending helps drive growth despite the weight of still-high interest rates