You’re not the only one who thinks so. Yesterday, the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 3.5% in March compared to a year ago. That’s also slightly higher from 3.2% in February. The two main culprits for the larger-than-expected jump: Rising housing costs and gas prices. The inflation reading sent stocks tumbling, with the Dow closing 422 points lower yesterday. It’s the third month in a row that consumer prices have been higher than expected, raising concerns that progress in the fight against inflation could be stalling.
What does this mean?
The Federal Reserve might have to keep interest rates at a 23-year high for longer. Experts say the Fed will likely hold off on making an interest rate cut this summer, with others saying there might not be a cut at all this year. That could impact your wallet, since higher interest rates mean higher borrowing costs on things like credit cards and car loans. Experts say although progress has stalled, it doesn’t appear that there’s a renewed surge in inflation — it might just take longer to get it back on track.
theSkimm
The latest inflation report isn’t what anyone wanted to hear. Still, the country is far from the 9.1% inflation rate in 2022, so there’s that.
“Forever chemicals.” Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever national limits on six types of chemicals in tap water. PFAS are long-lasting chemicals that have been linked to decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and increased risk of some cancers. Now, the EPA is requiring contamination levels to be almost zero, much lower than it has previously recommended. The EPA said it expects the new standards to reduce exposure for 100 million people. Critics said the EPA isn’t offering enough support to municipalities to make the change. Public water utilities have three years to test and an additional two years to get the proper equipment to lower contamination levels.
Where there are updates…
The Middle East.Yesterday, news outlets reported thatHamas said they do not have 40 Israeli hostages needed for the first part of a cease-fire deal. The news prompted fears that more hostages may be dead than previously thought. Negotiators have been working with Hamas on a six-week cease-fire deal that would release 40 hostages, including older people and women, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The news came the same day an Israeli strikekilledthree sons of one of Hamas’s top leaders.
What should be left to the professionals…
Botox. Yesterday, health officials said they're coordinating a multistate investigation with the CDC after fake Botox injections hospitalized at least four people in Tennessee and Illinois. At least two people were admitted with botulism-like illness after receiving injections in non-medical settings. Botulism is a rare but serious illness that attacks the body's nervous system and can be fatal. Health officials are reminding people that cosmetic treatments should be given in licensed settings by licensed providers.
Where there’s another reason to go for the gold...
FACT: 1 in 5 diagnoses in 2019 were in patients under 55, up from 1 in 10 in 1995.†
But it’s not all bad news. Regular screenings make it easier to detect colorectal cancer early. And with LetsGetChecked’s non-invasive Colon Cancer Screening Test (FIT), you collect your sample at home then send it to a lab, where they’ll check for signs of cancerous or precancerous growths in the stool and share easy-to-read results online in approximately 2–5 business days. Did we mention Skimm’rs get 25% off?
†According to theAmerican Cancer Society
Skimm Picks
Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life…
This club’s members save up to 90% on roundtrip flights to destinations like Paris (from $232) or Hawaii (from $139). And for the next 12 hours, Skimm’rs can save over $1,500 on their lifetime membership.*
Cutting-edge devices that’ll help you hear the important stuff.
These tiny, game-changing hearing aids have helped 385K+ happy customers tune out the noise and hear what matters. Plus, they’re smartphone and Bluetooth compatible, practically invisible, and German-engineered for crystal clarity. Hear, hear.*
Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).
Spelltower
Brick Breaker meets word search in Spelltower, your new favorite game. For every word you find, letter tiles disappear. The fewer tiles left when you run out of words, the better your score. Try it.
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Skimm'rs
We like to celebrate the wins, big and small. Let us know how your friends, neighbors, coworkers (and yes, even you) are making career moves, checking off goals, or making an impact in the community.
(Some) Birthdays…Nancy Schandler (NY), Tiffany Kuo (CA), Julianne James (OH), Keelia Faber (FL), Erin Jones (GA), Kaitlin Enright (NY), Kristina Nicoll (ON), Melie Vincent (OK), Kristi Rodriguez (NV), Jessica Gubenko (NY), Mel Bourgeois (NY), McKayla Hatfield (MN), Chuck Cole (FL), Thomas Silva (TN), Natasha Pitcairn (NY), Lauren Schlicker (WA)
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Skimm'd by: Anacaona Rodriguez Martinez, Chantal Vaca, Maria del Carmen Corpus, and Marina Carver
