Thirty percent of Americans say they’ve shoplifted this year, up from 24% in 2024, with many citing financial strain tied to inflation, according to new research from financial site LendingTree.
About 90% of those who admitted to shoplifting cited affordability concerns and the broader economy as among the drivers of their thefts, according to the LendingTree study, which surveyed 2,000 people in early June.
Inflation has accelerated this year, largely because the Iran war has sent oil and gasoline prices sharply higher. LendingTree said respondents who reported stealing were often taking necessities rather than discretionary items.
“These findings show how deeply inflation and financial stress continue to affect many households,” Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst, said in a statement. “When people are willing to risk the consequences of shoplifting for basics like food and personal hygiene products, it’s an unmistakable sign that many families are struggling mightily just to make ends meet.”
What are people stealing?
Americans are shoplifting everyday essentials, with food and nonalcoholic drinks ranking as the most popular items to steal, the study found.
Clothing and personal hygiene products were the second- and third-most popular items chosen by shoplifters, according to LendingTree.
Consumers also reported stealing toys, technology and electronics, as well as school supplies.
Where are they stealing from?
Those who admitted to shoplifting said they were slightly more inclined to steal from a major retailer than from an independent shop.
“Chain stores may be targeted more often because they’re more accessible, offer greater anonymity and tend to attract more shoppers,” Schulz said. “Large retailers often have heavy foot traffic, expansive layouts, self-checkout lanes and a wide selection of everyday essentials, making it easier for someone to blend in.”
When asked which retailers were easiest to shoplift from, respondents most frequently identified Walmart, with 47% naming the retailer. Family Dollar was ranked second, followed by Amazon Fresh and Kroger.
What are the risks?
To be sure, there are tremendous risks to turning to shoplifting.
“Shoplifting may feel like a way to solve an immediate cash-flow problem, but getting caught can create a much bigger one,” Schulz said. “It can lead to short-term financial costs, including fines and legal fees, as well as longer-term consequences, such as making it harder to get a job or rent an apartment.”
“I perceived our relationship as a working one,” he wrote in an op-ed for the Militarny website.
“If I offended anyone, Mykhailo Albertovych [Fedorov], I’m sorry.”
The general said the issues of military contracts, procurement and mobilisation currently being aired in the press and boiled down to pithy slogans on pieces of cardboard carried aloft by protestors were a great deal more complicated than most people realised.
“Decisions on which people’s lives depend are not made with slogans,” he said. “Real work, not the public drama surrounding it, wins the war.”
Like the ousted defence minister, the commander-in-chief avoided directly personal attacks, but the object of much of his criticism was pretty clear.
“Presentations should not turn into self-representations,” he wrote, in a thinly veiled swipe at Federov’s long, detailed news conference last week.
“Behind each slide there should be a document, a budget and a procedure,” the general went on. “Otherwise, instead of a decision the army gets disappointment.”
Syrskyi’s problem however is that most Ukrainians, especially the younger ones, seem to trust Federov’s analysis of what needs to change in order for Ukraine to win the war, not the general’s.
More than anyone, Federov is seen by many as driving innovation in the military,gradually improving Ukraine’s chances of beating back its numerically superior enemy.
“Right now, the war is changing, so we need new ideas and a new structure,” 44-year-old law company employee Tetiana Makarenko told me at one of the protests over the weekend.
“It’s often said that a small Soviet army can’t defeat a big Soviet army. It’s time to change the mindset and start the new type of war.”
Federov’s six months at the helm in the defence ministry have coincided with a string of military successes for which the minister, not always fairly perhaps, is credited.
“We had this feeling because we saw the changing situation,” Makarenko said. “We had the feeling that we can do this.”
In his article, Syrskyi hit back at those accusing him of a lack of strategy, or that he had failed to embrace new technology.
“The strangest reproach that I have heard is that I supposedly do not want to fight with drones,” he said, pointing out that he had presided over the creation of an unmanned systems force as a separate branch of the military.
A racing heart can be frightening at any age. Palpitations are common during perimenopause and may occur alongside hot flushes, anxiety and disturbed sleep. In many cases, they do not indicate a serious heart problem, but they should not automatically be attributed to hormonal changes.
Palpitations can occur for many reasons, including stress, anaemia, thyroid disorders, abnormal heart rhythms and long COVID. A racing or irregular heartbeat can also accompany a heart attack or another serious condition, including Takotsubo syndrome, also known as “broken heart syndrome”.
New, persistent or worsening palpitations should be assessed by a healthcare professional. Palpitations that do not go away or occur with chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling faint or fainting require urgent medical help.
New, persistent or worsening palpitations should be assessed by a healthcare professional (Getty Images)
Perimenopause and cardiovascular health
Perimenopause is the transitional phase before menopause, when ovarian hormone levels fluctuate and periods become less predictable. Menopause is reached after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
Oestrogen influences several aspects of cardiovascular health, including blood-vessel function, cholesterol and the body’s response to stress hormones. During the menopause transition, some women develop higher blood pressure, less favourable cholesterol levels and more fat around the abdomen. Insulin resistance may also increase, making the body less effective at controlling blood sugar. These metabolic changes may contribute to longer-term cardiovascular risk.
Age, genetics, existing health conditions and lifestyle also influence heart health, so these changes cannot all be attributed to hormones. Even so, research suggests that some cardiovascular risk factors can begin to worsen during perimenopause. The American Heart Association identifies the menopause transition as an important opportunity to check blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and address risks early.
Broken heart syndrome
Takotsubo syndrome causes a sudden, usually temporary change in the way part of the heart muscle contracts. It most often affects the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber.
The condition was first described in Japan in 1990. It was named after a traditional Japanese octopus trap because, during an episode, the left ventricle can temporarily balloon into a shape resembling the trap.
Takotsubo syndrome may be triggered by intense emotional stress, such as bereavement or shocking news. It can also follow physical stress, including severe illness, surgery or injury, although some people develop the condition without an obvious trigger.
Its precise cause remains uncertain. A sudden surge of stress hormones, including adrenaline, appears to play a central role. These hormones may temporarily affect heart-muscle cells, small blood vessels and the nervous signals controlling the heart. Researchers have examined several possible biological mechanisms, while experimental studies have shown how very high adrenaline levels can produce the characteristic pattern of heart dysfunction.
Takotsubo is rare and predominantly affects postmenopausal women, but it can also occur before menopause. Around 90% of diagnosed patients are women, and studies report an average age at diagnosis of between 67 and 70.
Palpitations can be one of its symptoms, particularly when they occur alongside chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness or fainting. Because these symptoms can also indicate a heart attack, they should not be dismissed as an expected part of perimenopause.
The predominance of Takotsubo among older women has led researchers to investigate whether lower oestrogen levels make the heart more vulnerable to stress hormones. Oestrogen may influence blood-vessel function and the cardiovascular response to stress, but a direct causal link between falling oestrogen and Takotsubo has not been established.
Takotsubo is estimated to account for around 1–3% of people presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome, a group of emergencies that includes heart attacks. The proportion rises to approximately 5–6% among female patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndrome. These figures apply to patients already being assessed for a possible cardiac emergency, rather than to perimenopausal or postmenopausal women generally.
Why it can look like a heart attack
One of the greatest challenges in diagnosing broken heart syndrome is that its symptoms closely resemble those of a heart attack. Both can cause sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, palpitations and extreme fatigue. The symptoms can be severe and life-threatening, making immediate medical evaluation essential.
A heart attack usually occurs when blood flow through a coronary artery is interrupted, often because the artery has become blocked. This can permanently damage the heart muscle if treatment is delayed.
In Takotsubo syndrome, the pattern of heart-muscle dysfunction is usually not explained by a blockage in a single coronary artery. However, coronary artery disease can occur alongside Takotsubo, so doctors cannot diagnose the condition simply by finding that the arteries are unobstructed.
Doctors may use an ECG, blood tests and an echocardiogram, an ultrasound scan showing how the heart is pumping. A coronary angiogram can identify narrowed or blocked arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, provides detailed images of the heart muscle and can help distinguish Takotsubo from other conditions, including inflammation of the heart muscle.
Because Takotsubo and a heart attack can look almost identical at first, suspected cases are initially managed as a possible heart attack.
Benedicta Quaye is a Lecturer in Anatomy, Lancaster University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
Heart function often improves within days or weeks, and many patients recover well. However, the acute episode can cause heart failure, blood clots, stroke, shock or cardiac arrest. Research suggests that some patients experience persistent symptoms or less complete long-term recovery than was previously recognised.
When to seek medical help
In the UK, call 999 for sudden chest pain or discomfort that does not go away, feels tight or squeezing, spreads to the arms, neck, jaw, stomach or back, or occurs with sweating, nausea, light-headedness or breathlessness.
Call 999 for severe difficulty breathing or if someone collapses and does not respond normally. Do not drive yourself to hospital.
Palpitations are common during perimenopause and often have causes other than a serious heart problem. However, new, persistent or worsening episodes should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Call 999 if palpitations do not go away or occur with chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling faint or fainting. A heart attack and Takotsubo syndrome cannot be distinguished from symptoms alone.
While America is noted for its skyscrapers and unique wildlife parks, the longest rivers tell another story. America’s longest rivers are more than scenic waterways. These rivers pass forests, deserts, mountains, wetlands, and grasslands, and create some of the country’s richest ecosystems. From giant paddlefish to rare alligators, the wildlife found along these rivers is equally fascinating. As per the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service, the five longest rivers in the US are Missouri, Mississippi, Yukon, Rio Grande, and St. Lawrence.
These five rivers together support thousands of species, from plankton to mammals. Here’s a journey along these mighty rivers and a look at the remarkable creatures who call them their home.
Melinda French Gates is speaking out about the challenges of recognizing perimenopause, saying she didn’t receive the proper diagnosis and treatment until after seeing three different doctors.
She shared her experience with journalist Norah O’Donnell’s new podcast “Healthful,” which will be released on Wednesday.
French Gates, now 61, said she was in her early 40s when she began experiencing menopause symptoms, noting that she “kind of couldn’t believe it,” as reported by CBS News.
Later, the philanthropist and businesswoman would learn that many OB-GYNs receive little formal training in menopause care, which she says underscores a broader gap in women’s healthcare.
Melinda French Gates is speaking out about the challenges of recognizing perimenopause, saying she didn’t receive the proper diagnosis and treatment until after seeing three different doctors.(Getty Images)
French Gates shared that she was lucky enough to know the signs, thanks to input from older friends.
“But it was kind of unbelievable to me that, even in this, you know, unbelievably privileged situation I’m in, where I feel like I can get some of the best healthcare, it took me three doctors to really diagnose what I was going through and to get the right treatments for where I was,” she said during the interview.
“It wasn’t because anybody was doing the wrong thing. It’s because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause.”
Supporting her claim, a national survey published in the journal Menopause in 2023 found that only about one-third of U.S. obstetrics and gynecology residency programs include a formal menopause curriculum.
More recently, a 2024 study found that OB-GYN, family medicine and internal medicine residents have low knowledge and low confidence in treating menopausal symptoms.
“It wasn’t because anybody was doing the wrong thing. It’s because of what I now know, which is, only one-third of OB-GYNs in this country are trained in menopause,” French Gates told journalist Norah O’Donnell on her podcast “Healthful.”(Getty Images)
In a separate 2026 Kansas study, more than half of residents reported receiving fewer than five hours of menopause education — and the majority did not believe that residency fully prepared them to treat menopausal patients independently.
In a national survey of 2,000 women, only 25% said their healthcare provider had adequately informed them about perimenopause.
Additional training in this area could help, researchers claim, as knowledge scores increased from 61% to 79% among those who received a structured curriculum.
About 1.3 million U.S. women reach menopause each year, according to The Menopause Society. Most begin perimenopause in their 40s, although it can start earlier.(Getty Images)
About 1.3 million U.S. women reach menopause each year, according to The Menopause Society. Most begin perimenopause in their 40s, although it can start earlier.
As perimenopause causes hormone levels to fluctuate, women can experience a range of symptoms. Some of the most common include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, vaginal dryness, brain fog and joint pain as hormone levels begin to fluctuate, according to Mayo Clinic.
Fox News Digital reached out to French Gates’ representatives for comment.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
When an interviewer withEntertainment Tonight pointed out Damon’s muscles at the movie’s world premiere in London, Theron — who plays Greek goddess Calypso in the film — admitted that she was checking him out as well.
“I’ve seen him without all of that suit on. He’s incredible. Incredible,” the Oscar-winning actor, 50, gushed to ET. “It’s weird. I’m, like, staring at him weirdly. I’m looking at his ass.”
She then joked, “I shouldn’t do that! That’s just wrong,” before doubling down on how “amazing” he looked.
Charlize Theron and Matt Damon co-star in Christopher Nolan’s new film ‘The Odyssey’ (Getty)
The two A-list actors go way back. They co-starred in The Legend of Bagger Vance with Will Smith in 2000 and have remained friends over the years.
Theron said on the Today show earlier this month that reuniting with Damon on set was “sentimental.”
“We did the first take, and I just went, ‘Oh my God, we did this when we were babies, and here we are, two old humans,’” she said on the show July 13, adding that Damon is “just one of my favorite people.”
She added: “It’s rare that you get to do something like that, you know, to experience the same experience, like 30 years later, and with someone as great and as wonderful.”
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in ‘The Odyssey’ (Universal Pictures)
In addition to Theron and Damon, Nolan’s adaptation starred Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous and Zendaya as Athena. It also features Anne Hathaway, Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong’o.
“I was in great shape. I lost a lot of weight,” the Good Will Hunting actor told Jason and Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast in January.
Damon, who has been married to Luciana Barroso since 2005, said he weighed between 185 and 200 pounds before filming the movie, but worked with his doctor to cut gluten from his diet — which proved to be the key to his transformation.
“I did that whole movie at 167,” he said. “And I haven’t been that light since high school. So it was a lot of training and a really strict diet.”
Kaylee Hottle, an Atlanta-born actress known for her role in the “Godzilla” film franchise, has died following a crash in Frederick County, Maryland, authorities said. Hottle was 18.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies and Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services responded to the crash around 2:52 a.m. Tuesday on Windsor Road in Ijamsville.
According to the sheriff’s office, a preliminary investigation found that a 1995 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old Frederick man traveled off the right side of the two-lane road and struck a culvert. Investigators believe excessive speed was a contributing factor in the crash.
Three people were in the vehicle, including Hottle.
Actress Kaylee Hottle attends the world premiere of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” in Hollywood on March 25, 2024.
FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images
The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries that authorities said are not believed to be life-threatening. Another passenger declined medical treatment at the scene.
The third passenger, identified by the sheriff’s office as Hottle, was taken to an area trauma center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Hottle, who was born in Atlanta, was recently living in Kyle, Texas. She was best known for portraying Jia in the films “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” Her IMDB biography also says Hottle came from a multigenerational deaf family and was a native user of American Sign Language, which helped launch her acting career.
A wallet neatly arranged with smaller notes placed before larger ones may look like a harmless preference. For many people, keeping cash organised is simply a way to stay prepared or make everyday payments easier. But psychologists say there is a point where a simple routine can reveal something deeper about how a person responds to uncertainty, control and anxiety. When sorting bills becomes difficult to ignore, causes distress or feels impossible to stop, it may be more than just a habit. The difference is not found in the wallet itself, but in the emotions attached to keeping everything in the “right” order.
When a simple habit starts to feel necessary
Many everyday routines involve some level of organisation. People arrange their desks, sort digital files, line up objects or keep their belongings in a particular order because it can make daily tasks easier. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) explains that a preference for order or neatness alone does not indicate obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); clinicians consider whether behaviours cause significant distress, consume excessive time or interfere with daily functioning.Sorting banknotes by value can work in much the same way. Keeping smaller bills separate from larger ones may help someone pay faster, track spending or simply enjoy a sense of neatness. According to the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), many people experience habits or preferences around organisation without these reaching the level of a mental health disorder.The concern begins when the behaviour no longer feels like a choice. A person might repeatedly take out their wallet to rearrange notes, check the order several times, or feel a growing sense of discomfort when the arrangement is changed. Research by psychologist Stanley Rachman in “A Cognitive Theory of Obsessions” (1997) published in ScienceDirect describes how repetitive behaviours can become problematic when they are linked to distress and are performed to reduce anxiety rather than for practical reasons.Psychologists often look at the effect of a behaviour rather than the behaviour itself. A tidy wallet alone does not indicate a mental health condition. The key question is whether the habit creates distress, takes up excessive time or disrupts everyday activities, which are central factors used in OCD assessment according to the DSM-5 criteria published by the American Psychiatric Association.
The difference between being organised and having OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is often misunderstood as simply being extremely neat or careful. In reality, the condition involves unwanted thoughts, known as obsessions, and repetitive actions, known as compulsions, that a person feels driven to perform.The routine may provide temporary relief, but the anxiety often returns. This can create a cycle where the person feels trapped between discomfort and the need to repeat the action.Someone who prefers their cash arranged neatly may not have OCD. They might simply enjoy structure. The situation becomes different when the person feels intense distress if the routine is interrupted or believes something must be corrected before they can continue with their day.A wallet organised from the lowest denomination to the highest is not, by itself, a sign of a disorder. The emotional response behind the habit matters far more.
When order becomes tied to anxiety
For some people with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, the problem is not the object being arranged. It is the feeling that comes with leaving it imperfect. A misplaced note, a bill facing the wrong direction or a wallet that feels disordered may create a strong sense of unease. The person may understand that the reaction seems excessive, yet still feel unable to ignore it.The study published in ScienceDirect, titled “Not just right experiences: Perfectionism, obsessive–compulsive features and general psychopathology,” reveals that obsessive-compulsive symptoms are often driven not by the object itself being incorrectly arranged, but by an uncomfortable internal feeling that something is incomplete or “not just right.” Researchers found that these experiences were strongly associated with OCD features, particularly checking and ordering behaviours. The study suggests that some individuals repeat actions not because there is an actual problem with the object or situation, but because the behaviour temporarily reduces a distressing internal sensation.This explains why a small imperfection, such as a misplaced item or an arrangement that feels slightly different, can create significant unease for someone experiencing OCD symptoms. The urge to correct it may appear unnecessary from the outside, but internally it can be linked to anxiety relief and a need to regain a sense of completion.This is one reason OCD can be difficult to recognise. From the outside, the action may look harmless or even responsible. Inside, however, it can involve constant mental pressure and repeated attempts to reduce anxiety. The same pattern can appear in many areas of life, from checking locks multiple times to repeatedly cleaning surfaces or arranging objects in a specific way.
Why perfectionism is not the same thing
There is a clear difference between wanting things done properly and experiencing compulsions.A person who likes a clean home, carefully manages money or prefers an organised workspace is not necessarily showing signs of OCD. Many people have routines that make them feel comfortable or efficient.With OCD, the behaviour is usually connected to distress. The person may spend significant amounts of time completing rituals, struggle to resist them, or experience anxiety when they try to stop.That distinction is important because ordinary habits exist on a wide spectrum. Being detail-focused is not automatically a problem. It becomes concerning when the need for order begins to control decisions and daily life.
The role of intrusive thoughts
Behind compulsive behaviours are often thoughts or fears that feel difficult to dismiss.A person may worry that something bad will happen unless an action is completed correctly. Others may feel a strong sense that something is “wrong” even when they cannot explain why.These thoughts can be exhausting because the relief from completing a ritual is usually short-lived. The mind may soon demand the behaviour again.In the case of sorting money, the visible action is arranging notes. The deeper issue may be the anxiety that appears when the arrangement is not maintained.
The difference between choice and compulsion
A simple way to think about any repetitive habit is to ask whether the person can choose to stop.If someone can leave their wallet slightly untidy and continue with their day, the habit may simply reflect personal preference. If avoiding the routine creates overwhelming anxiety, delays, conflict or distress, it may be worth seeking professional advice.The arrangement of cash is only the visible part of the behaviour. The more important question is whether the habit serves the person or whether the person feels controlled by the habit.
GLP-1 drugs could lead to cost savings for workers and their employers by reducing employee sick leave, a new economic study finds.
Researchers found that patients who used the drugs, sold under brand names including Ozempic and Wegovy, took 17% less long-term sick leave than people who didn’t use the medications. The study defines long-term sick leave as illness-related absences lasting more than 30 days, according to the paper, published this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
GLP-1 drugs, which are prescribed to people with diabetes or obesity, are known to improve patients’ health, including by reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, research shows.
“Those events, we’d imagine, would lead to long-term absences from work,” Jonathan Zhang, one of the study’s co-authors and a professor at Duke University, told CBS News. “So you can imagine the savings of not having those absences.”
The reduction in worker absences translates to savings of up to 1.5% of an individual’s salary, or roughly $866 on average, according to the study, which analyzed worker and medication usage data from Denmark.
To be sure, Denmark’s sick leave policies differ greatly from those in the U.S. For example, in Denmark, employers must pay their workers their full salaries for illness-related absences of up to 30 days, while the government covers long-term sickness leave of more than 30 days.
A reduction in short-term illness led to savings for employers, while fewer longer-term absences saved the government money, according to the report.
“Imagine you take two days off, your employer would still pay your salary,” Zhang explained. “Now they still pay your salary, but you don’t take the time off,” he said of patients taking GLP-1 medications.
Because long-term sick leave in Denmark is covered by the government, cost savings related to GLP-1 drug use would accrue to the government.
“There are fiscal benefits, but that doesn’t look like savings for the patient or the individual, because sick leave benefits are so generous,” Zhang said.
Zhang said the survey findings could apply to the U.S. labor market.
“In the U.S., which doesn’t have the generous sick leave policy of Denmark, people get sick and they go to work. They’re less productive because they feel crappy,” he said, noting that neither the employee nor the firm benefits in such a scenario.
He added that if the drugs help reduce “presenteeism” — when employees come to work but aren’t able to perform at their best because of health issues — companies could become more productive while workers could get more done and potentially earn more promotions.
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he called “unequal treatment” of US cars, dairy and alcohol. On Tuesday, he said the tariffs are a response to how Canada has treated US farmers. The White House said the duties would take effect in 30 days. It marks a major escalation in trade tensions between the North American neighbours.
