Cost

• La American Heart Association publicó un Aviso Presidencial el 30 de abril de 2026, declarando que la asequibilidad de la atención médica en EE. UU. se encuentra en un punto de crisis debido al aumento de los costos impulsado por las enfermedades crónicas. • Los costos están obligando a los estadounidenses a retrasar o evitar la atención médica, lo que empeora los resultados de salud e incrementa la deuda médica; una encuesta de Gallup muestra una preocupación generalizada por acceder a una atención asequible. • Una encuesta de McLaughlin & Associates encontró que el 51% de los votantes cita el seguro médico como su principal preocupación, seguido de las facturas hospitalarias (11%) y los costos de los medicamentos (10%).

Las acciones de Domino’s Pizza, el operador de KFC Collins Foods y el propietario de franquicias de alimentos multimarca Retail Food Group han sufrido caídas de dos dígitos Reciba nuestro correo electrónico de noticias de última hora, nuestra aplicación gratuita o nuestro podcast diario de noticias Lo que antaño fue un símbolo de alimentación barata, la comida rápida se está transformando en un lujo que muchos ya no pueden permitirse debido al resurgimiento del coste de vida. Este cambio se refleja en la bolsa ASX, donde las principales cadenas de pizza, pollo frito y dónuts están registrando caídas significativas en sus precios, planteando la pregunta: ¿están los consumidores tan desanimados que incluso están renunciando a la comida rápida? Continuar leyendo...

• El secretario de defensa será interrogado por legisladores en el comité de servicios armados del Senado tras una sesión tensa en la Cámara de Representantes ayer. • Regístrese para recibir el correo electrónico de Breaking News US. Hola y bienvenidos a nuestra cobertura de la política de EE. UU. mientras Pete Hegseth se enfrenta a un segundo día de interrogatorios por parte de los demócratas en el Capitolio, con los senadores teniendo su primera oportunidad de confrontar o elogiar al jefe del Pentágono por su manejo de la guerra de Irán. • El secretario de defensa batalló con los demócratas —y algunos republicanos— ayer durante una audiencia del comité de servicios armados de la Cámara de Representantes de casi seis horas, donde enfrentó cuestionamientos sobre los costos de la guerra en dólares, vidas y el agotamiento de los arsenales de armas críticas.

El rastreador de percepciones de los consumidores muestra que el 85 % está preocupado por los precios de los alimentos y la mayoría cree que la economía se deteriorará. Tres millones de hogares del Reino Unido se ven obligados a saltarse comidas mientras los consumidores recurren a medidas drásticas para hacer frente al aumento de los costes, según un informe de Which? publicado el jueves. El conflicto en Oriente Medio y el consiguiente aumento de los precios del petróleo y las materias primas han provocado que las empresas se preparen para subir los precios, lo que ejerce más presión sobre las finanzas de los hogares y afecta a la confianza de los consumidores. Continuar leyendo...

• Los precios de la gasolina han superado los 4 dólares por galón y los precios de los vuelos se han disparado debido a que el bloqueo del Estrecho de Ormuz impacta los mercados energéticos en medio de la guerra de EE. UU. e Israel con Irán, erosionando la principal ventaja política de Trump. • Más de tres cuartas partes de los votantes registrados —incluyendo a más de la mitad de los republicanos y al 82% de los independientes— culpan ahora a Trump por la crisis del costo de vida que afecta al combustible, los comestibles, la vivienda y la atención médica. • Los índices de aprobación del segundo mandato de Trump han caído mucho más rápido que los de presidentes anteriores tras un cierre del gobierno, los aranceles y el ataque conjunto de EE. UU. e Israel contra Irán, mientras el presidente de la Reserva Federal, Jerome Powell, advierte que la guerra está alimentando la inflación.

• Casi dos tercios (64%) de los adultos en EE. UU. están preocupados por poder costear los gastos de atención médica, con un 30% muy preocupado, superando las preocupaciones de asequibilidad sobre los precios de la gasolina. • La asequibilidad de la atención médica sigue siendo la principal preocupación del público a pesar de otras presiones económicas. • La encuesta destaca la continua presión financiera sobre los hogares en medio del aumento de los gastos médicos.

Mientras su secretario de defensa testificaba ante un comité de la Cámara de Representantes, Trump publicó una imagen de sí mismo generada por IA con un arma y una leyenda que decía «NO MORE MR. NICE GUY». Pete Hegseth ha negado que la guerra de EE. UU. e Israel contra Irán sea un «atolladero» y afirmó que los críticos de la operación representaban una amenaza mayor para EE. UU. que el propio Irán, al verse bajo presión para detallar la estrategia de Washington para el conflicto. Al comparecer ante el comité de servicios armados de la Cámara de Representantes junto al general Dan Caine, presidente del Estado Mayor Conjunto, el secretario de defensa de EE. UU. pidió a los legisladores que aprobaran un presupuesto de 1,5 billones de dólares en gasto militar, y luego describió a algunos de ellos como «el mayor desafío» para el esfuerzo bélico. Continuar leyendo...

Brown pide a la policía que investigue el uso de fondos públicos por parte del ex príncipe, tras declarar que pidió a un colega que planteara el asunto en 2008. Gordon Brown ha revelado que ordenó que se interrogara a Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor por incurrir en “costes inaceptables” como enviado comercial en 2008, al tiempo que pedía a la policía que ampliara su investigación para incluir el uso de fondos públicos. El ex primer ministro dijo que pidió a un colega del departamento de negocios que cuestionara a Mountbatten-Windsor sobre sus gastos de viaje. Continuar leyendo...

Una firma de insolvencia señala las subidas de impuestos, los costes de personal y la inestable confianza de los consumidores después de que la cifra aumentara a 62.193. El número de empresas del Reino Unido en «dificultad financiera crítica» ha aumentado más de un tercio en el último año, según especialistas en insolvencia, mientras las compañías lidian con una «avalancha de aumentos de impuestos» y el impacto del conflicto en Oriente Medio. Las empresas de hostelería y ocio han sufrido especialmente debido a la frágil confianza de los consumidores y al aumento de los impuestos y los costes de personal, según una investigación de la empresa de reestructuración Begbies Traynor. Continuar leyendo...

• Las empresas pesqueras también pueden acceder a subvenciones de hasta el 70%, en una flexibilización de las normas de ayudas estatales para los «sectores más expuestos» • Business live – últimas actualizaciones • La UE va a subvencionar hasta el 70% del coste adicional de combustible y fertilizantes provocado por la guerra de Irán para agricultores, empresas pesqueras y transportistas por carretera, como parte de un paquete de medidas de emergencia presentado el miércoles.

• Un grupo climático pide un impuesto urgente sobre las ganancias extraordinarias de los combustibles fósiles, mientras delegados informan en la conferencia de Colombia que sus naciones están sufriendo. • El análisis revela que la crisis del petróleo y el gas en Oriente Medio impondrá hasta un billón de dólares en costes adicionales a la economía global, mientras las compañías petroleras recaudan beneficios espectaculares debido a los elevados precios del combustible. • La distribución desigual de riesgos y recompensas ocurre en medio de una creciente preocupación de que el ataque estadounidense-israelí contra Irán esté agravando la desigualdad, la pobreza y el hambre en un mundo que se ha vuelto peligrosamente dependiente de los combustibles fósiles.

• Un hombre del East Bay, en el condado de Contra Costa, murió tras consumir hongos silvestres tóxicos en medio de un aumento de casos en todo el estado. • California registró 35 casos de intoxicación por hongos del 18 de noviembre al 4 de enero, cifra muy superior al promedio anual de menos de cinco. • El aumento ha provocado advertencias sanitarias sobre los riesgos de la recolección durante condiciones climáticas húmedas.

Exclusive: Report shows cost of first appointment rose $20 in one year, with steeper rises in Western Australia, South Australia and TasmaniaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPatients are increasingly going without medically necessary dermatological care, the head of the Consumers Health Forum said, as new report reveals the rising cost of the specialty in Australia.Dermatology is expensive and getting pricier, with an average first visit now costing an adult patient without concessions $230 out-of-pocket, while follow-up appointments cost almost $190, the report from health directory Cleanbill found. Continue reading...

• The Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell regarding the agency's building expenditures, marking a significant development in federal oversight. • The decision came amid broader discussions on Capitol Hill about federal accountability, with both Republican and Democratic representatives weighing in on the implications. • The outcome reflects shifting priorities in federal investigations and debates over Fed governance and spending practices.

Officials hope more casual attire for public servants will save electricity during Iran war as summer approachesPublic servants working for the Tokyo metropolitan government are being encouraged to swap their suits for shorts this summer to combat sweltering heat and rising energy costs caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.Inspired by the country’s Cool Biz energy-saving initiative, Tokyo officials hope the measure will cut dependence on air conditioning. Continue reading...

Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran could speed the EU’s green revolution – if panicking governments can hold their nerve on clean energy• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereA surge in demand for electric vehicles across Europe may be evidence of what George Monbiot greeted as the silver lining of the Iran war. Sales of electric cars in continental Europe rose by 51% in March.The International Energy Agency has called the disruption in the strait of Hormuz the “biggest energy crisis in history”, but it appears, on one level, to be accelerating Europe’s green revolution. Yet, even if car-owners are rushing to the EV showrooms, some European governments, facing a groundswell of anger over soaring petrol and gas prices, are at risk of sending the clean energy transition into reverse. Continue reading...

Firm had to repatriate almost 12,000 guests and staff, including from two cruise ships in Abu Dhabi and DohaThe Iran war has cost the travel company Tui €40m (£34.7m) so far, including repatriating almost 12,000 holidaymakers and staff, and forced it to cut its profit forecast for this year.Europe’s biggest holiday operator said that it had taken the hit in March owing to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, as it was forced to bring home 5,000 guests from two cruise ships anchored in ports in Abu Dhabi and Doha. Continue reading...

Farmers have been calling for higher prices for weeks, amid soaring diesel and fertiliser costs and limited supplyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColes has increased home-brand milk prices by up to 20c a litre, with Woolworths set to follow as war in the Middle East starts to hit Australian grocery costs.The price rise will support the company’s bottom line against pressure from higher fuel and operating costs, while some of the revenue will be temporarily passed on to dairy farmers. Continue reading...

The trend has been accelerated by the US-Israel war on Iran, leaving households – and cafe owners – glum, surveys suggestFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor many coffee drinkers, takeaway orders are changing from a habitual purchase to an occasional treat, as elevated petrol prices and other living costs leave households feeling glum.This rapid shift in behaviour has disappointed cafe owners and surprised economists, raising an uneasy question: if takeaway coffee sales are falling, is the economy next? Continue reading...

• Oil prices dropped significantly, providing tailwinds for technology companies as lower energy costs reduce operational expenses and improve profit margins across the sector. • Constellation Research founder R 'Ray' Wang discussed the direct relationship between Big Tech performance and oil and gas pricing, highlighting how the energy market collapse supports tech stock rebounds. • The decline in energy costs removes a key headwind for capital-intensive tech operations and data centers, contributing to the broader market rally.

A Trace analysis found that revenue from fining white-collar criminals is drying up – due to presidential pardonsThis story was originally published by the Trace, a non-profit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here.Since his return to office last year, Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of white-collar criminals. He’s also forgiven their fines, penalties and restitution, to the tune of billions. Some of that revenue was supposed to go to a fund to help victims of violent crime – and the organizations that serve them are feeling the pinch. Continue reading...

Health secretary and chef Robert Irvine claim Americans could eat healthier and more cheaply if they shopped betterSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxThe first episode of the new Secretary Kennedy Podcast, produced by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), opens with this quote from guest Robert Irvine, who creates meal plans for the US military: “We talk about food being expensive. If you’re buying expensive food, it’s expensive. But if you’re buying food and you know what to do with it, it’s not expensive.”The episode is titled Fixing America’s Food System – Robert Irvine, and features a 45-minute conversation with the HHS secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, the host of the show, and guest Irvine. Best known as a celebrity chef, Irvine has collaborated with the US military to launch Victory Fresh, a program that offers healthy grab-and-go meals on military bases, during the Biden administration. The program’s Biden-era origins are never acknowledged during the show. Continue reading...

Scheme cutting bills by up to 25% expanded to cover 10,000 firms, but they will not be paid until next yearRachel Reeves has announced an expansion of support for the most energy-intensive UK businesses, as they face soaring bills as a result of the Middle East conflict.The chancellor said the long-promised British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) would be expanded to cover 10,000 companies, up from the 7,000 originally announced. Continue reading...

Consumer spending on travel is down for the first time in five years while card spending edges up in MarchUK consumers have cut back on travel spending for the first time in five years, as they worry about the rising cost of living amid the Iran war.Overall consumer card spending increased 0.9% year on year in March, down from February’s 1%, according to data from Barclays. Continue reading...

Governments spending $2.13bn annually on low quality food in public settings, report saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReptile remains, believed to be from a crocodile, have been found dumped on the side of the road in Adelaide.A spokesperson for the state’s environment and water department confirmed in a statement that department staff had “collected the remains of a reptile at Waterloo Corner.” They said:The remains, which were dumped on the side of the road at Coleman Road, will be analysed in an effort to confirm the species and any other information.“It is not currently known how the remains came to be located at the site.A different approach can increase the use of fresh, local produce, redirect spending to Australian farmers and producers, support the people working in public food service kitchens, and generate real benefits for Australia.Better public food procurement is not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter. The evidence is clear, public support is strong, and the solutions exist. Given the threat to our food system caused by the global fuel and fertiliser crisis, now is the moment for leadership. Continue reading...

NSW government urged to investigate if transport department refused to share cost of sensors that would detect a person entering coupling areaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe potentially life-saving safety upgrades to Sydney’s light rail, which a former Transdev employee has alleged were cancelled in order to save money, would have only cost about $2.2m, according to the whistleblower.The New South Wales government has been urged to investigate whether its transport department declined to share the cost of installing sensors that would detect a person entering the coupling area between two joined trams after a fatal incident in 2023. Continue reading...

• Truckload markets are tightening faster than anticipated, with freight costs now projected to increase 16–17% year over year in 2026, according to C.H. Robinson's April freight market update. • Capacity constraints and carrier attrition are driving the acceleration in transportation costs across North America. • The tighter capacity environment signals sustained pressure on logistics expenses for shippers as supply chain challenges persist into the second quarter.

PM appears to draw comparison between Russian and US leaders and calls for plan to restore shipping through strait of HormuzKeir Starmer has said he is “fed up” with the effect that Donald Trump’s actions in the Middle East are having on the British public, while appearing to draw a comparison between the US president to Vladimir Putin.Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston on Thursday, the prime minister said: “I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy, businesses’ bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world.” Continue reading...

Charity says it dealt with 75 incidents last year involving 100 or more animals living in one propertyThe cost of living crisis and an increase in people experiencing mental health difficulties have led to a rising number of multi-animal rescue incidents in England and Wales, an RSPCA superintendent has said.The animal charity this week had to confirm that a shocking photograph of more than 250 poodle-cross dogs found at a property in the UK was not faked with artificial intelligence. The RSPCA took in 87 of the dogs and the remainder went to the Dogs Trust, another charity. Continue reading...