Latest news with #postCOVID


Fox News
06-08-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Gen Z reversing the remote work trend as loneliness, desire for interpersonal skills drive youth to the office
Influencer Isabel Brown on findings that Gen Z prefers hybrid or in-office work to fully remote options in the post-COVID era.


CNBC
08-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Bank of America raises year-end S&P 500 target to catch up to 'meteoric run,' sees little gain from here
There may not be much room to run left in the stock market, according to Bank of America. Strategist Savita Subramanian raised her 2025 S & P 500 target to 6,300 from 5,600. That represents upside of just 1.1% from Monday's close of 6,229.98. "It's hard to identify a positive catalyst for the S & P 500 to continue its meteoric run into Q3. Among our five target models, our EPS Surprise framework represents our near-term read and is mixed, at best," said Subramanian. "Negative guidance and revisions in April/May have improved to average levels but economic surprises have broken down. And the meat of corporate profits, tech company earnings, are slated to decelerate," she added. .SPX YTD mountain SPX year to date Subramanian's target change comes after the S & P 500 last week made fresh record highs. The market recovered from the steep losses seen in April sparked by the April 2 tariff announcement. At one point, the S & P 500 was nearly 20% below its February closing peak. The levies unveiled on "liberation day" and subsequent sell-off led Subramanian and many others to slash their year-end S & P 500 targets. She originally lowered her forecast to 5,600 from 6,666. But as the market turned around, several sell-side strategists notched their estimates back up. "The US isn't exceptional, but Corporate America might be," said Subramanian. "Despite tentative trade deals, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) and receding recession risks, policy uncertainty is near all-time highs. … But corporate transparency has remained intact." "Most co's have continued to guide on profits, and estimate dispersion (a measure of EPS uncertainty) is near post COVID lows," she said. Subramanian's new target is just above the 6,208 average among those included in the CNBC Market Strategist Survey . Previously, she was tied with Evercore ISI's Julian Emanuel for the lowest target.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Couples are choosing to give up sex — and they insist it's saving their marriages: ‘We learned to communicate better'
The lights are off, and nobody's home — and apparently, that's a good thing. Turns out, a little less action in the bedroom might be the very thing keeping some couples together. While sexless marriages are usually viewed as a one-way ticket to splitsville, more couples are sharing that their love lives — minus the actual lovemaking — are happier than ever. Take Corey, who told Popsugar in a recent interview that after 13 years with her partner, their relationship reached a whole new high… without going low. 'During the time we weren't having sex, we were growing closer than ever,' Corey said. 'Sex is not the reason we are together; it's just a nice bonus.' The couple, who got together as hormone-fueled teens, hit a dry patch post-COVID — between chronic fatigue, body image issues and plain ol' burnout. Eventually, they just stopped prioritizing sex. 'We just kind of weren't in the mood,' Corey explained. 'We learned to communicate even better and genuinely didn't fight at all.' Instead of calling it quits, they cuddled, kissed, went on dates — and realized their connection didn't hinge on bedroom gymnastics. 'Our relationship is strong, and it's built on mutual respect and genuinely liking one another,' Corey told the outlet. Corey isn't alone. In a related Reddit post, one man raved about his six-year sexless marriage: 'The decision to stay has been the best of my life, by far. For the past few years, I wake up every day feeling so lucky to be next to such a wonderful partner.' And these couples may be more on-trend than they think. As previously reported by The Post, according to a government study analyzed by the Institute of Family Studies, Americans are doing it less — or not at all. Sexlessness is soaring among 22- to 34-year-olds, with 24% of men and 13% of women saying they hadn't had sex in the last year. 'In sum, for young adult males, sexlessness has roughly doubled across all measures over the last 10 years,' the IFS noted. 'For young adult females, it has risen by roughly 50 percent.' One major factor? Fewer folks are getting hitched — and those who are, aren't necessarily getting busy. Even inside marriages, some months are notoriously dry. Post-holiday stress, credit card bills and family drama all contribute to a nationwide libido nosedive. 'It's incredibly common for couples to experience a decline in intimacy during January,' relationship counselor Simone Jobson told The Post. 'The holidays create a lot of external pressure… most people just need time to rest and recover.' But a cold winter doesn't always mean a cold relationship. As Corey proves, sometimes stepping back from sex helps couples find new ways to connect — and even make their way back to the bedroom. After two years of no sex, she and her beau recently started getting frisky again — but not out of guilt. 'Sex is a wonderful way to connect and feels great, but it doesn't have to be the basis of a marriage,' she said. Forget the seven-year itch — some couples are scratching their way to marital bliss by skipping the sheets altogether.


Motor 1
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
‘That Honda Fit Sounds Like the One:' Used Car Salesman Picks His Top 6 Vehicles Under $4,000. But How Reliable Are They?
You're broke. It's hot. Uber is expensive. Your current ride smells like despair and ketchup packets. But you can't afford a new car, so you have no choice but to climb into the cloud of rancid french fry grease and hit the road. Or is there another way? Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Used car dealer Kellen Lake (@kellenlake) says that you actually can afford a new vehicle. You don't need a loan, either, Lake says: You need a Toyota Camry with 200,000 miles. While walking the grounds of a North Carolina-based used car dealership, Lake offers viewers some low-budget options from Chevrolet, Toyota, and Volvo that can be purchased for less than $4,000. A cheeky text overlay on his post says, 'Cars under $4K that'll outlive your last relationship.' Lake points at a 2008 Chevrolet Impala with 65 service records, joking, 'That's more maintenance than your ex got in therapy. No accidents. Just pure vibes." Lake describes a gold Volvo XC70 thusly: 'If IKEA made tanks, this would be it.' He says a 2007 Honda Fit with 53 service records 'sips gas like your aunt sips boxed wine: Cheap and consistent.' With new car prices averaging over $47,000 and even older used vehicles fetching record highs post-COVID, the idea of a reliable beater has gone from punchline to holy grail. According to Lake, you don't have to break the bank to get a reliable used car on the cheap. You just need to do your homework. Selling Cars One TikTok at a Time Trending Now 'All I Get Is Old Men:' Man Buys Classic Chevrolet to Get Attention From Women. It Backfires 'Making It Personal:' Man Buys 'Lemon' Ford F-150 From Used Car Dealership. Then He Decides to Get a Custom Wrap and Warn Buyers Lake told Motor1 over the phone that he used to run a personal training studio and make daily videos about fitness. Now that he sells used cars, the subject matter has changed, but the strategy hasn't: make people laugh, teach them something useful, and earn their trust before you try to make a deal. 'It's not about making a quick sale,' he said. 'It's about building trust. If they know, like, and trust you, they'll come to you when they're ready.' Now the general manager at New Era Motors in Winston-Salem and a co-owner of Oak Auto NC in Kernersville, North Carolina, he still treats content like a long game. Every video—whether it's a rundown of sub-$4,000 cars or a walkaround of a recent auction pickup—is part of a larger effort to build a brand people actually believe in. 'I'm never going to say I post a video and something sells the next day,' he said. 'Has that happened? Sure. But that's only because I've been posting organic content every day since 2017.' What He's Actually Selling—and Why It Matters The cars in Lake's viral TikTok aren't sleek. They're not rare. And they're definitely not going to make anyone jealous at a stoplight. But they'll get you from point A to point B. The Toyota Camry is well-known for being a reliable vehicle, even with high mileage. The same is true of the 2007 Honda Fit . The Volvo XC70 has purportedly had some lesser years, but is also generally considered a dependable vehicle. Some 2008 Chevy Impala owners have complained about its reliability, but overall, it has a rather high rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars in this category on Kelley Blue Book . The Hyundai Sonata Lake highlights is also generally seen as a reliable vehicle, though there have been complaints about engine seizing, and some years are considered lesser than others. Subaru Foresters have been described as somewhat more "finicky" than the straightforward Honda or Toyota, but the brand is also widely known for its reliability. All the cars Lake highlights in the post share the same profile: Under $4,000, clean titles, long service histories, and a reputation for being mechanically sound, even if they're visually uninspiring. For Lake, that's a feature, not a bug 'Not exciting, but neither is walking,' he jokes in the TikTok. Buying Advice When asked what advice he'd give someone looking for a vehicle under $4,000, Lake doesn't hesitate. 'First, check the tires. Then the trunk. Then pop the hood and look for stop leak,' he said of a fix for minor leaks in gaskets, seals, or radiators. He says that before buying, you should also look at: Coolant reservoir—look for white gunk or a blackened reservoir, as both suggest engine wear or quick-fix additives like stop leak; Check the oil—low levels, moisture, or signs of neglect are red flags; and Look under the hood—moisture around the engine might indicate head gasket problems. He emphasizes that buyers should still test drive the vehicle and get a feel for how it sounds and handles. But more than anything, he values service records, noting that older cars with 40 or more service records show some real care was taken. Then comes his secret weapon: An OBD-II scanner. 'They're cheap. Plug it in, get the codes, and then copy/paste them into ChatGPT,' he says. He recommends asking the artificial intelligence to provide repair scenarios, cost ranges, and parts estimates based on the vehicle's year and make. 'It gives you a really good idea of what you're possibly getting into,' Lake says. More From Motor1 'Not Having Wireless CarPlay in a $30K Car Is Kinda Crazy,' Says Honda Civic Driver. Then He Finds a Workaround 'Can't I Just Use Carfax?' Man Lists His Car for Sale on Facebook Marketplace. Then He Spends $60 on a Vehicle History Report Used Car Prices Are Spiking, Except For EVs Yes, You Should Use Fuel Detergent. Your Engine Will Thank you Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )

CBC
23-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
For long COVID sufferers, a beacon of hope closes its doors
People who continue to suffer the effects of COVID-19 long after contracting the illness say they're concerned to be losing a major resource in eastern Ontario. The Ottawa Hospital's outpatient post-COVID rehabilitation program opened in July 2021. According to the hospital, it helped treat more than 160 patients before shutting its doors in May. Dennis Murphy, who spent nearly two years on the hospital's waitlist, called the closure frustrating. He contracted COVID-19 in June 2023, and has been experiencing lingering symptoms including brain fog and fatigue ever since. The Kingston, Ont., resident was first referred to The Ottawa Hospital program in August 2023, but was still waiting for treatment when the hospital announced the program was ending. "This [disease] has had a very serious impact on my life," said Murphy, who recognized others have suffered through worse. "I've been able to continue working, I'm continually able to enjoy many things, if at a lesser level. That is not the case with a lot of people." For Murphy, it's been the little things that most people take for granted, like taking his kids to the beach. "I'm really hoping that I can do that this summer, but I realize that if I choose to, I will probably will not be able to do much the next day," he said. When CBC visited Murphy's home, he grew tired after gardening for a short time. "It's difficult psychologically ... when you really want to do something and be out and active. It limits my ability to do things that I like to do," he said. Susan Whitton was more fortunate. She contracted COVID in January 2023 and was accepted into the rehabilitation program the following January. She said it was invaluable, and she fears for others who won't get the same chance. "It kind of feels like they've been abandoned. They've been sort of left on their own," she said. "If I caught COVID now and there was no support, there was nowhere to turn, you were trying to solve this on your own — I don't know what people are doing now." She said she's still recovering, more than two years after first contracting the illness. "I may look better on the outside, and for my job I pretend that everything is fine and everything is wonderful. But it's not. It's a struggle every day," she said. In a statement, The Ottawa Hospital said the clinic supported more than 160 patients with long COVID-19 symptoms since its launch. "In alignment with other centres across Ontario, The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (TOHRC) made the difficult decision to close the program," the hospital wrote in a statement to CBC. "Care teams at TOHRC are working to provide alternative resources, including educational materials and peer support options, to help patients continue managing their recovery." But Murphy questions that decision. He called the program's record "woefully inadequate," given the number of long COVID sufferers who are still seeking treatment. Ontario's Ministry of Health said in a statement that it released guidelines to diagnose, assess and manage patients with long COVID, and provided a resource page on the illness. It did not point to any similar rehabilitation programs available to patients in eastern Ontario. In December 2023, Statistics Canada reported that about 3.5 million Canadian adults reported experiencing long-term symptoms from COVID-19, and nearly 80 per cent experienced symptoms lasting six months or more. Only three provinces have extended funding for long COVID treatment, according to Dr. Angela Cheung, a professor of medicine and a senior physician scientist at the University Health Network, University of Toronto. (Cheung has no connection to The Ottawa Hospital's post-COVID rehabilitation program). She said there's still much that's unknown about long COVID. "It's kind of like HIV in the early days. We are making progress, but science does take time," she said. "We do sort of need to give it a little bit more time, so we see results from trials." For patients in eastern Ontario, that doesn't provide much comfort.