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PNC Bank’s Christmas Price Index hits $46,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

PITTSBURGH (WSVN) — PNC Bank’s 40th annual Christmas Price Index (PNC CPI) reveals a 2.7% increase this year, lower than the previous year’s 10.5%. Released at a time of heightened economic scrutiny, the index mirrors trends in the U.S. economy, with labor costs being a significant driver.The 12 gifts from the classic carol, “Twelve Days of Christmas,” now total $46,729.86, with five gifts, including five gold rings and eight maids-a-milking, seeing no increase in price compared to 2022. The partridge in a pear tree remains unchanged, but the pear tree itself saw a 15% jump, reflecting housing costs.Dr. Amanda Agati, Chief Investment Officer for PNC’s Asset Management Group, highlighted the impact of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions and global economic factors on this year’s index. “Certain industries are experiencing stickier inflation than others, some of which is well beyond the Fed’s control,” said Agati in...

US life expectancy rebounded in 2022 but not back to pre-pandemic levels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

(CNN) — Life expectancy in the United States has started to rebound after historic drops earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic, but it’s far from recovering.In 2022, a 1.1-year increase brought overall life expectancy at birth to 77.5 years, according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that offsets less than half of the 2.4 years of life lost in the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, and life expectancy is still lower than it’s been in about 20 years.Decreasing mortality from Covid-19 was the key factor driving life expectancy up – for both men and women, and across racial and ethnic groups, according to the CDC report. But Covid-19 remains a leading cause of death in the US, and experts say that continuing to decrease mortality from the virus will be an important contributor to improving life expectancy.“In 2022, the number of deaths from Covid-19 was not insubstantial,” said Elizabeth Arias, a researcher with the CDC’s National Center...

Users of diabetes drug Mounjaro lost more weight than those on Ozempic, large study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

(CNN) — Overweight and obese adults who took the injected medication Mounjaro lost more weight and were more likely to meet specific weight loss targets than people on a similar competitor, Ozempic, according to a new study of people taking the drugs in the real world.Both Ozempic, or semaglutide, and Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, mimic the effects of the gut hormone GLP-1, which stimulates the body’s production of insulin and slows the passage of food through the stomach. GLP-1 also signals the brain to help control appetite. Tirzepatide also stimulates a second gut hormone, called GIP, which may help boost its effects.The drugs are prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes but have gained new popularity because they may also help people lose substantial amounts of weight.The new study is a preprint that has not been peer-reviewed or published in a professional journal. Its results are in line with observations from clinical trials, and many doctors had suspected that tirzepatide might be mo...

Suicide deaths reached a record high in the US in 2022, despite hopeful decreases among children and young adults

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

(CNN) — More people died from suicide in the United States last year than any other year on record, dating to at least 1941,according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.At least 49,449 lives were lost due to intentional self-harm in 2022 – more than 14 deaths for every 100,000 people.Men were about four times more likely than women to die by suicide, and rates were highest among senior men. But the suicide rate increased twice as much for women in 2022, with especially significant increases among White women and those ages 25 to 34.Suicide rates have been rising in the US for the past few decades. In 2021, the US surgeon general called for the implementation of a national prevention strategy and issued an advisory focused on protecting youth mental health amid a spike in suicide rates and “alarming increases” in mental health challenges among young people.Despite the overall increase, provisional data from 2022 shows signs of improvement in ra...

Parthenon Marbles row: Sunak under fire over handling of fallout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak was accused of “losing his marbles” over his handling of a major diplomatic spat with Greece.Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer launched a pun-filled barrage against Sunak at this week’s session of prime minister’s questions as the row between the U.K. and Greece over custody of the ancient Parthenon Marbles — known as the Elgin Marbles in the U.K. — deepens.Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reacted separately, saying Sunak’s decision to abruptly cancel their meeting late on Monday evening was “unfortunate,” but gave Greece’s demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles even more international publicity.“It was an unfortunate event,” Mitsotakis said Wednesday during a meeting with Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, but expressed confidence that it would not have any impact on bilateral ties.Back in the Commons, Starmer accused Sunak of engaging in “small politics” for canceling the meeting with Mitsotakis over his decision to raise the issue o...

New England Aquarium Welcomes Two New Sea Lions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

For all of the concern about outmigration and the dire lack of housing in Massachusetts, two new transplants from Alabama are settling in nicely in their new rent-free home at the New England Aquarium.Farley and Giovanni, a pair of 15-year-old California sea lions, moved to the Boston aquarium in June from their previous home at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama. The male (Farley) and female (Giovanni) are now permanent residents of the aquarium’s New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center, where they joined three other California sea lions: Zoe, Sierra and Tipper.“We are very excited for the addition of a male sea lion and an additional female sea lion. Farley and Gio are at the perfect age to socialize with our resident sea lions, and we feel that this will not only be very enriching for all five of the sea lions but also align with our goal of providing the highest level of care for our animals,” Kristen McMahon, curator of pinnipeds and penguins at the aquarium, s...

Report: Investors adding to record Massachusetts housing market strains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

The housing crisis that has suffocated Massachusetts renters and would-be buyers with record high costs and few options stems from decades of sluggish production and an economy that continues to attract more workers to the greater Boston region.But there’s another factor driving the strain, too: profit-seeking investors are snapping up properties at an increasing rate, making it more difficult and pricier for everyone else to compete, according to new research.A report published Tuesday by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council estimates that about one-fifth of all properties in greater Boston between 2004 and 2018 were bought by an investor or speculator, pushing prices upward for everyone else and putting once-affordable homes out of reach for many low- or moderate-income families.“That fact in itself is pretty staggering,” Jessie Partridge Guerrero, the report’s lead author, said in an interview. “I think what’s worse is that this rate is highe...

4 things we heard from Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus, including Luke Getsy’s offensive game plan and Justin Fields’ postgame thank-you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus met with reporters Tuesday at Halas Hall to recap his team’s 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on “Monday Night Football.”Bears players have a six-day break for the bye week before reporting back to Lake Forest on Monday. As the Bears prepare for rest and reflection during their time off, here are four things we learned from Eberflus.1. Matt Eberflus said the Bears are ‘always wanting more chunk (plays)’ when asked how the offensive game plan unfolded.The Bears relied mostly on the short, horizontal passing game to combat the Vikings’ heavy pressure. Quarterback Justin Fields, who completed 27 of 37 passes for 217 yards with three sacks, no touchdowns, no interceptions and two fumbles, said a big emphasis in practice from offensive coordinator Luke Getsy during the week was to get the ball out quickly to the outside as the Vikings blitzed.“They pack the paint,” Eberflus said. “Some of thei...

Bill Belichick explains Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham’s lack of QB reps

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham made a somewhat surprising admission to the Herald last week when he said he hasn’t regularly practiced at quarterback since Week 6.That acknowledgment came amid a multi-week quarterback controversy that has seen starter Mac Jones benched in his last two appearances and four times this season. Cunningham served as the Patriots’ backup quarterback in Week 6 against the Raiders but was waived after the game and signed back to the team’s practice squad.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Will Patriots change kickers after missed game-tying field goal? Bill Belichick answers New England Patriots | OBF: These Patriots among worst 5 units New England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-signing QB Will Grier to practice squad after release New England Patriots | Bill O’Brien: Blame me for Patriots’ offensive failures New England Patriots | ...

Bill Belichick ‘not prepared’ to announce Patriots’ starting quarterback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:23:51 GMT

FOXBORO — For the second straight week now, there’s a complete lack of clarity over who will start at quarterback for the Patriots in an upcoming game.Head coach Bill Belichick was asked Wednesday morning about the team’s quarterback situation and would not name a starter.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Will Patriots change kickers after missed game-tying field goal? Bill Belichick answers New England Patriots | OBF: These Patriots among worst 5 units New England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-signing QB Will Grier to practice squad after release New England Patriots | Bill O’Brien: Blame me for Patriots’ offensive failures New England Patriots | Two Patriots legends named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists for 2024 Class “Yeah, I’m not going to make any announcements on our lineup at any position,” Belichick said. “It doesn’t matter...