This could put some downward pressure on gasoline prices. The price of oil dropped $1.25 this morning, and is trading at $73.35 U-S a barrel. Traders point to concern about the sputtering U-S economy. According to GasBuddy-dot-com, the average price of regular gasoline across Canada is a-dollar-point-six a litre. That's up four-10ths of-a-cent from a week ago. Also according to GasBuddy-dot-com in Simcoe this morning we're paying about $99.5 a litre. On the road this long weekend? How much did you pay, where?

A survey of more than 1,900 Canadian employers finds 21 per cent of them expect to increase their payrolls in the fourth quarter of 2010. The survey, by Manpower Canada, says seven per cent of employers it surveyed anticipate making cutbacks. Of those surveyed, 70 per cent of employers expect to maintain current staffing levels and two per cent are unsure of their intentions for the quarter. Overall, says Manpower, the hiring climate for the fourth quarter is expected to be "steady.'' Of the 10 industries surveyed, employers in mining and manufacturing-durable goods report the most positive results for the fourth quarter, followed by finance, insurance and real estate. Manpower Canada is a private-sector company that provides staffing services to employers.

Kia Motors is recalling about 35-thousand Soul and Sorento vehicles to fix wiring in the interior lighting panels that could lead to fires. Owners will be notified later this month and the wiring will be replaced. It's not clear if the recall affects Canadian vehicles. No accidents or injuries have been reported.

Locals are being warned against using hammocks for infants and young children because of the high suffocation risk they pose. Health Canada issued the warning after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission along with MamaLittleHelper recalled the company's hammock. Health Canada says the safest place for a child is in a crib, not in a hammock where a child can roll and suffocate.

Ford says it is recalling 575,000 older model Windstar vans in the United States and Canada because of the possibility that the rear axles can corrode and potentially break. The recall covers vehicles in the model years 1998 to 2003 sold in Canada and the US where the heavy use of road salt can cause more corrosion. Ford Motor Co. says it plans to start notifying owners beginning on Sept. 27. The company says the axle breaks have occurred in only a small number of vehicles.

Toyota Canada is recalling about 200,000 Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks over engine problems that may cause the vehicle to stall. The company says it will recall vehicles from the 2005-08 model years. The recall addresses the vehicles' engine control modules. Toyota says there's a possibility a crack may develop on the circuit board, which could result in difficulty shifting, problems starting the engine or stalling. The company says it isn't aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem in Canada. Toyota has recalled about 8.5 million vehicles worldwide in the past year because of acceleration problems and braking flaws.

A U.S. federal judge has set Sept. 7 as the next hearing in a multistate lawsuit demanding tougher action to prevent Asian carp from overrunning the Great Lakes. Judge Robert M. Dow Jr. heard from both sides during the first hearing in the case Monday in Chicago. Michigan assistant attorney general Robert Reichel argued the threat of Asian carp to the Great Lakes has reached a "biological tipping point'' and the waterways leading into Lake Michigan have become a "carp highway.'' Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota and Pennsylvania want to close locks and install barriers to stop the voracious fish. Authorities in Canada are also working with U.S. officials to slow the carp's progress. U.S. Department of Justice attorney Maureen Rudolph says Congress has given the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discretion in how to deal with the problem.

A new report finds most Canadians are fearful about the future costs and quality of health care in Canada. Pollster Ipsos Reid gathered public opinion for the Canadian Medical Association's annual report card on health care. More than three-thousand Canadians were asked about their perceptions and expectations of long-term health and health-care needs. The report says 80 per cent of Canadians were concerned health-care quality will decline due to the strain on the system caused by aging baby boomers. More than three-quarters of those polled also worry the system won't be able to offer the same level of coverage as boomers reach retirement age. Roughly the same proportion fear they won't have enough money to maintain their own health as they age. That tops concerns over being able to afford retirement and losing a job. C-M-A president Doctor Anne Doig says the report sends a clear signal to decision-makers that Canadians want an open dialogue on the tough issues in health care.

We've become a generation of paying with plastic - but if you don't have the cash to pay off that credit card balance, you could be getting yourself in deeper than you realize. New credit card rules come into effect September 1st - including a change to your bill that could be a real eye opener. Card companies will be forced to state exactly how long it will take, and how much it will cost you to pay off your debt IF you only make the minimum payment. For example, a debt of 375 dollars - at a minimum payment of 13 dollars a month - would take 10 years and 820 dollars to pay off. It's hoped that being faced with that reality will make shoppers reconsider their spending habits. Local Financial Counsellor, Sue Davey says it's easy to people to fall into the buy now pay later trap, but this reminder should shock you into spending within your means. Her advice is only have one card, and only buy what you can pay off in three months. She says you have to make payment every month to avoid additional fees, but try to pay more than just the minimum - even if it's only a few dollar extra. She says it's OK to have a credit card - so long as you use it carefully. A credit card can be a great tool be build credit for big future purchases like a car, or home. Other changes coming soon include the fact that consumers will get a 21-day grace period to pay off any new purchases, and the card company will have to give you advanced warning about changing interest rates.

A Six Nations businessman has been cleared on all charges related to trafficking illegal cigarettes in the United States. Ken Hill of Ohsweken was charged last September with 16 charges related to supplying a smoke shack near Seattle with tens of millions of illegal cigarettes between March 2003 and February 2008. After a week long hearing, jurors unanimously agreed to acquit Hill of all the charges.