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<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Good morning. Milton has strengthened once again into a Category 5 hurricane. Gas stations across Florida are already <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-gas-stations-out-of-fuel-before-hurricane-milton-landfall-2024-10">running out of fuel</a> as millions of people try to flee.In today's big story, we got our first interest-rate cut, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-economy-recession-no-landing-borrowing-2024-10">but it doesn't feel like it for many consumers</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Roblox is the latest target of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/roblox-stock-price-short-seller-hindenburg-report-gaming-inflated-metrics-2024-10">short-seller Hindenburg Research</a>.</li><li>Tech: The DOJ is considering asking a judge to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-antitrust-case-doj-remedy-alphabet-2024-10">break up Google</a>.</li><li>Business: Walt Disney World will temporarily <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-shut-down-hurricane-milton-florida-orlando-parks-2024-10">close its doors</a> for Hurricane Milton.</li></ul>But first, we're canceling the landing.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3 id="7fa5f018-5b05-4a37-a8dc-d3f89138bcb3">The big story</h3><h2 id="5fd547b9-ec52-41fc-8e08-4f4b27dd8097">So much for the help</h2><div type="image" title="Business person in a suit holding scissors, preparing to cut strings suspending a stack of cash, with a group of people standing below" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114087130" hostid="261" sizebytes="264596"></div>The US economy is having an Instagram vs. reality moment.Last month's interest-rate cuts were supposed to kick off a new era. After two years of battling inflation, the Federal Reserve finally claimed victory. More rate cuts were coming, which meant lower borrowing costs for everyone.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cuts-outlook-economy-recession-no-landing-borrowing-2024-10">But the relief many were hoping for isn't materializing</a>, writes Business Insider's Jennifer Sor. Let's break down why.We finally got an interest-rate cut, but borrowing costs are still high. What gives? First off, last month's interest-rate cut wasn't going to provide immediate relief. It takes time for cuts to trickle down to consumers. The Fed also telegraphed the cut, so the market started pricing it in.That seems fair, but borrowing rates are still rising in some cases. Yes, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-rate-increase-since-federal-reserve-cut-interest-rates-housing-2024-10">has gone up 47 basis points since the Fed cut rates</a>, writes BI's Matthew Fox.So the Fed cut rates but borrowing costs went up? How is that possible? You can thank the 10-year Treasury yield, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-outlook-impact-of-rate-cuts-10-year-treasury-yields-2024-9">which is a key benchmark used by</a> lenders. It went above 4% this week for the first time since August.I'm confused. Why is there such a discrepancy between the two? The Fed's rate is focused on the short-term while the 10-year Treasury reflects a longer-term view (hence the name). As a result, the 10-year bond yield can diverge from the Fed's benchmark rate.Gulp So what does the 10-year Treasury rising mean for the economy? Big picture, it's a good thing. Thanks to a stellar jobs report, investors have a positive view of the economy's future. But the downside is we shouldn't expect the slew of rate cuts investors were banking on. The economy will likely avoid a recession and not need the help.Is this a soft landing or a hard landing? Neither. It's considered a "no landing" because the economy remains strong, but in a way that risks reigniting inflation, which would hamstring the prospect of future stimulative rate cuts.What's with all the aviation metaphors? I don't know.OK, so at this rate, will I ever be able to buy a house? It's honestly not as bad as it seems. BI's James Rodriguez, who's covered the housing market for a while, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-ice-age-homebuyers-mortgage-rates-spring-real-estate-2024-10">has a piece on why the industry's ice age is starting to thaw</a>. There was a 34% year-over-year increase in active listings in September. More inventory will help unstick the economy.<h3 id="77f31a4c-8462-4e3d-a71f-838cb79493fb">News brief</h3><h2 id="1fcd294b-3f53-425f-9f20-4093e8623b59">Top headlines</h2><ul><li>The Kremlin says <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kremlin-says-trump-sent-putin-covid-tests-pandemic-denies-calls-2024-10">Trump sent Putin COVID tests</a> during the pandemic, but denies subsequent calls.</li><li>Boeing's negotiations with union leaders <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-strike-negotiations-union-leaders-break-down-after-two-days-2024-10">break down 2 days after restarting</a>.</li><li>Exclusive: AI cloud startup Ori is in talks to raise up to $80 million in funding, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ori-gpu-ai-startup-talks-raise-funding-nvidia-2024-10">sources say</a>.</li><li>A surprising company <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robotaxi-ridesharing-tesla-waymo-uber-2024-10">might beat Elon Musk</a> in the robotaxi race.</li><li>Influencers are swiping a new black card at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/influencer-marketing-startup-oth-network-pays-creators-products-services-2024-10">restaurants, spas, and fitness studios</a>.</li><li>I don't allow Roblox in my house. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/roblox-not-allowed-my-child-kids-why-explained-2024-10">Here's why</a>.</li></ul><h2 id="8120060b-ae66-48dc-b149-f0489a30ffa2">3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="Photo of wave hitting Florida park" height="1000" width="2000" msid="114087135" hostid="261" sizebytes="112966"></div><ol><li>The Hurricane Milton trade is in full effect, according to US natural gas futures. Energy traders are betting the storm barreling toward Tampa will cause power outages in multiple states. <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/hurricane-milton-power-outage-florida-electricity-natural-gas-prices-futures-2024-10">Futures on US natural gas have dropped 8% over the past few days</a> as power plants are expected to be left idling as demand evaporates.</li><li>A short-seller takes aim at Roblox for "lying to investors." Hindenburg Research accused the online gaming platform of <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/roblox-stock-price-short-seller-hindenburg-report-gaming-inflated-metrics-2024-10">inflating its user numbers</a> by including bots and players with multiple accounts. It also called Roblox a "pedophile hellscape," claiming child users are exposed to grooming and pornography. A Roblox spokesperson said in a statement it "totally" rejected the claims made in the report.</li><li>Bank of America is bullish on stock gains ahead of this earnings season. "The bar isn't high," BofA analysts said in a Tuesday note. Stocks should rise as long as companies report they're <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stocks-q3-earnings-lower-rates-stocks-returns-outlook-bofa-2024-10">feeling good about lower rates</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="f4b54806-7f81-450c-ba32-92560d4fae9b">3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Vinod Khosla" height="900" width="1200" msid="114087136" hostid="261" sizebytes="76966"></div><ol><li>OpenAI's exec exodus might actually be a good thing, Vinod Khosla says. The legendary investor backing OpenAI has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-vinod-khosla-fixing-ai-image-2024-10">plenty of confidence in the startup</a>, even after multiple high-profile exits. He also thinks the AI industry is catching strays from "Luddites" — those who think the tech is a slippery slope into a Westworld-ian apocalypse.</li><li>The DOJ may seek to break up Google. After a major antitrust lawsuit against Google, a federal judge ruled that it illegally monopolized online search. Now, prosecutors are proposing "behavioral and structural remedies." If enacted by a judge, the changes could <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-antitrust-case-doj-remedy-alphabet-2024-10">force a major reorganization or even a breakup</a> of some of Google's basic businesses, including its search engine.</li><li>Where are the Gen Z Mark Zuckerbergs? Gen Zers, aged 13 to 27, haven't produced any big-name tech founders like previous generations. But don't just blame it on Zoomers' blasé attitudes toward work — <a target="_blank" href="https://businessinsider.com/gen-z-tech-founder-gap-zuckerberg-bezos-holmes-2024-10">there's a bigger reason</a>.</li></ol><h2 id="9260fa45-d397-4b3c-b4f8-4bb193976216">3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="A screenshot of zara.com" height="1500" width="2000" msid="114087133" hostid="261" sizebytes="93076"></div><ol><li>Zara's bizarre website is the secret to its success. The site, which feels more like a magazine spread than an online retailer, is routinely roasted for being "virtually unusable." But experts say <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/zara-website-memes-mocked-secret-success-aspirational-luxury-consumers-2024-10">there's a method to Zara's madness</a>: It's meant to project an upscale image, distancing itself from other fast-fashion brands.</li><li>The "happiest place on earth" takes a rain check. There are literally storm clouds forming over Florida's family-friendly amusement parks, as the state braces for Hurricane Milton. It's a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-shut-down-hurricane-milton-florida-orlando-parks-2024-10">rare occasion for Disney World</a>, which has only closed its gates nine times in more than 50 years.</li><li>Tesla executives are hitting the exits. In the past week, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-loses-4-top-executives-ahead-of-robotaxi-event-2024-10">four of Elon Musk's direct reports have announced they're leaving</a>, or have already left, the company. Their departures come ahead of Robotaxi Day tomorrow, where Musk is tasked with convincing investors that Tesla is more than just a car company.</li></ol><h2 id="9f5d80ac-3466-429f-a50a-2ffbb70c65ff">What's happening today</h2><ul><li>Hurricane Milton is projected to hit the west coast of Florida, including the Tampa Bay area.</li><li>Federal Open Market Committee's September meeting minutes and forecast published.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Milan Sehmbi, fellow, in London. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

Why the interest-rate cut isn't delivering the relief consumers were hoping for

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US economy looks strong, but that's tough news for those hoping for cheaper borrowing costs.</li><li>Borrowers have been waiting for lower rates to improve the affordability of everything from homes to credit cards.</li></ul>The US economy looks like it's on course for what Wall Street has long considered the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dream-economic-scenario-inflation-job-market-unemployment-growth-federal-reserve-2023-11">dream scenario</a> — but that could actually diminish the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-decision-this-week-federal-reserve-powell-inflation-2024-9">financial relief many Americans have been waiting for</a>.The no-landing scenario — in which the economy dodges a recession and continues to grow — was coveted by investors for its implications for stocks as economic strength props up the ongoing bull rally. However, the risk for everyday Americans is that rates fail to come down enough to provide meaningful relief.The case for the no-landing outcome was revived by the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/september-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-nonfarm-payroll-growth-federal-reserve-2024-10">blowout jobs report</a> last Friday, which showed that the economy added 254,000 jobs in September, far above economists' estimates. Meanwhile, job gains for the months of July and August were also revised upward.Those are promising signs that the economy hasn't materially weakened after years of higher interest rates, and that the Federal Reserve may not need to loosen monetary policy as much as previously thought.This week, Ed Yardeni, the president of Yardeni Research, said he thinks the Fed is done cutting rates for the rest of the year."September's strong employment report and upward revisions in July and August murdered the hard-landing scenario," Yardeni said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-fed-outlook-recession-economy-stocks-ed-yardeni-2024-10#:~:text=The%20Fed%20is%20done%20cutting%20interest%20rates%20for%20the%20rest,triggered%20by%20oil%20prices%20spiking.">note</a> to clients this week.As the no-landing scenario becomes increasingly priced into the bond market — the 10-year Treasury yield is above 4% this week for the first time since August — the impact is being felt in a key segment of the economy: housing.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mortgage-rate-increase-since-federal-reserve-cut-interest-rates-housing-2024-10">The 30-year mortgage rate has crept higher</a>, not lower, since the Fed delivered its big rate cut. How further rate cuts impact mortgage costs is up in the air, and will depend on how the bond market reacts to future data.There's a secondary risk here, too. As the economy reaccelerates, inflation could become a problem again, solidifying a higher for longer interest rate outlook that many had abandoned after the Fed's jumbo rate cut last month."Stronger job creation may result in a rise in prices which further complicates the Fed's job. We think the jobs report removes the chance of another 50 bps rate cut at the meeting in November," Megan Horneman, the CIO of Verdence Capital Advisors, said on Monday.Steven Blitz, the chief US economist at TS Lombard, echoed that sentiment in a note on Tuesday. "The Fed will not get the funds rate down to 3%, but the terminal rate for this round will nevertheless end up too low and be kept there for too long. Inflation subsequently rebounds, and the Fed is back raising rates sooner than anyone expects," Blitz said. "The risk of this bad outcome arriving sooner than later rests with what has now become the biggest risk in the Fed's cut and aggressive guidance, and the one markets are not pricing — that there is no landing at all."For American consumers <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-decision-this-week-federal-reserve-powell-inflation-2024-9">hoping for relief from high borrowing costs </a>for the past two years, these are unwelcome developments.The interest rate on credit card loans from commercial banks rose to 21.7% in August, the highest rate recorded in at least the last 20 years, according to Federal Reserve data.The rate on 48-month new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TERMCBAUTO48NS">auto loans</a> also rose to 8.6% in August, the highest in more than a decade.Consumer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RCMFLOORIG">mortgage originations</a> at large banks also plunged to $44 billion in August, down from a peak of $212 billion in 2021, Philadelphia Fed data shows."With benchmark interest rates coming down, most prospective borrowers don't feel relieved of high borrowing costs," according to Mark Hamrick, a senior economic analyst at Bankrate. "Financing and affording big ticket purchases is still a stretch for many Americans, whether looking at homes, cars or household items that might be paid for using a credit card."

The economy is facing a 'no-landing' scenario that undercuts the financial relief many Americans hoped for

As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled the Union <keyword id="19955368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="keywords">Budget 2024</keyword>, all eyes were on the <keyword id="20024321" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing-sector" source="keywords">housing sector</keyword>, which has been a focal point for both developers and <keyword id="19907145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="homebuyers" source="keywords">homebuyers</keyword>. Expectations were high for increased deduction limits on home loan interest repayments, higher principal repayment deductions, and more robust incentives for first-time homebuyers. Last year's budget focused on increasing <keyword id="20254620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="affordable-housing" source="keywords">affordable housing</keyword> through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (<keyword id="19945794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PMAY" source="keywords">PMAY</keyword>), with a significant allocation to achieve the goal of "Housing for All." The <keyword id="20152263" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="real-estate-sector" source="keywords">real estate sector</keyword> had previously seen incentives for developers building affordable housing, such as tax holidays under Section 80IBA and increased allocation through the SWAMIH fund to improve liquidity for stressed projects. <h2>Major announcements in Budget 2024</h2>As per FM Sitharaman's 2024 Budget announcements, PMAY is set to add an additional 3 crore affordable housing — houses priced under Rs 40 lakh — in rural and urban sections of India. This will be accomplished with Rs 10 lakh crores, which includes assistance of Rs 2.2 lakh crores over the next five years. A provision of <keyword id="21240797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-subsidy" source="keywords">interest subsidy</keyword> to facilitate loans at affordable rates is also envisaged, the FM noted in her speech. “This is certainly pertinent – the affordable homes category has been seeing a decline in overall sales since the pandemic, to approximately 19% in H1 2024 from over 38% in the period before the pandemic in 2019,” notes Anuj Puri, Chairman of ANAROCK Group. “Consequently, this segment’s percentage share of the total housing supply in the top 7 cities also fell to 18% in H1 2024 from nearly 40% in 2019. Any boost to this vital segment is therefore welcome.” As per December 2023 reports, 65% of houses under PMAY-Urban had been completed and delivered to beneficiaries since the scheme was introduced in 2015. This amounts to over 78 lakh pucca houses out of the 1.18 crore sanctioned. The new addition to PMAY will thus attempt to more than triple the quadruple the number. <h2>Tax reliefs and transparent rental policies</h2>This year, the sector expected further <keyword id="20345361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-relief" source="keywords">tax relief</keyword> measures for homebuyers and developers. Key demands are aplenty, including increasing the deduction limit for home loan interest repayment from the current Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3-4 lakhs for self-occupied properties, reintroducing tax exemptions for first-time homebuyers, standardising the definition of "Affordable Housing", and reducing GST on construction materials like cement and steel. However, there has been only disappointments on this front based on the announcements so far. However, in terms of the tax changes, the Budget has proposed a massive reduction in rental matters for the individual. While the current tax deducted at source (TDS) for Payment of rent by individuals or HUF under Section 194-IB stands at 5%, the new budget is set to bring this down to 2%, effective from October 1, 2024. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25 key highlights: Angel tax to be scraped" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Further, the government has promised to enable and implement policies and regulations for efficient and transparent <keyword id="20071228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rental-housing" source="keywords">rental housing</keyword> markets with enhanced availability. <h2>Additional initiatives</h2>Further, dormitory-style accommodations have also been announced for industrial workers in public-private partnership mode with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support and commitment from anchor industries. VGF is a scheme that helps support important infrastructure projects that may not be financially viable, through grants that total up to 20% of the total project cost. The FM also announced that policies and regulations for efficient and transparent rental housing markets with enhanced availability will be put in place, to ease the rental and home-owning process. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111953230" title="Union Budget 2024-25: Mobile Phones to get cheaper, as FM Nirmala Sitharaman reduces basic customs duty to 15%" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Markets are optimistic in the aftermath of these announcements, with many housing finance companies recording healthy gains since the speech. Puri notes that the renewed focus on rural and urban job creation, if effective, may provide some boost to affordable housing in even tier 2 and 3 cities. “The Finance Minister's allocation of ₹10 lakh crore to help 1 crore poor middle-class families buy houses will boost the demand for residential properties,” remarks Divyam Mour, Research Analyst at Samco Securities. ”This funding, along with interest subsidies, will greatly benefit real estate developers like DLF, Macrotech Developers, NBCC, and Sunteck Realty, as well as housing finance companies focused on the lower and middle classes, such as Aadhar Housing Finance, Aptus Value Housing Finance, and Aavas Financiers.”

Budget 2024: More affordable housing, lowered rent TDS — here’s what will change for the housing sector this year

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Colin Farrell looks completely different in "The Penguin" — and that's putting it lightly.</li><li>Farrell told BI that it was an "utter relief" to remove the character's makeup each night.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/colin-farrell-penguin-not-allowed-smoke-the-batman-2022-2">Colin Farrell</a> underwent an incredible makeup and prosthetic transformation to transform into Oz Cobb in "The Penguin," but the actor was happy to take it off each night."Utter relief, utter relief," Farrell told Business Insider when asked how it felt to shed the Penguin after a day of shooting. "Next level, every night."Farrell made his debut as the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/danny-devito-penguin-better-than-colin-farrells-portrayal-2022-8">famed Batman villain </a>in Matt Reeves' <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-batman-is-a-villain-origin-story-2022-2">2022 film "The Batman,"</a> which starred Robert Pattinson as the DC hero. "The Penguin," helmed by showrunner Lauren LeFranc, focuses specifically on his character Osgood "The Penguin" Cobb in the film's aftermath.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-batman-colin-farrell-the-penguin-photo-2020-8">Farrell looks extremely different in the role</a>, and that's putting it lightly. Makeup artist Mike Marino told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://screenrant.com/the-penguin-prosthetic-makeup-mike-marino-interview/">Screen Rant</a> that it took approximately two and a half hours a day to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/actors-transformations-before-after-photos-movies-tv-2022-12">get Farrell fully into the prosthetics</a>, after which point the team would monitor him throughout the day to ensure the look was staying in place.While speaking with BI and other reporters at the show's New York City premiere on Tuesday, Farrell compared his experience to a cat seeing itself in the mirror."It's strange," he said. "I mean, I knew I was in there, it's not like I ever fully lost sense of myself. But it was a very powerful thing to know yourself a certain way for 45 years and to see a reflection, and it also kind of made me aware of how much I identify with how I look."Farrell said that the discrepancy in his appearance gave him more of a "blank slate" while on the job, compared to other productions. He also credited showrunner LeFranc and her team of writers for the material to fill that open space."It was amazing," he said. "It was really, really powerful. There was something very powerful and very kind of hypnotic to the experience.""The Penguin" premieres Thursday, September 19 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=fed657e5d456898628c785351016f7b12b4d269a5d17af0f15435159aef229d0&amp;postID=66ec53ea69657a7deb44fc5f&amp;postSlug=colin-farrell-penguin-makeup-prosthetics-transformation-hbo-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.max.com%2F">Max</a>.

Colin Farrell says that taking off his makeup for 'The Penguin' was an 'utter relief' every single night 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Halfway to the weekend! A legendary piece of social-media history is returning: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-poke-feature-gen-z-2024-3">the Facebook Poke</a>. Best of luck in all your <a target="_blank" href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=poke%20war">Poke wars</a>.In today's big story, we're looking at why the economy has most consumers feeling like they are <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-housing-market-mortgage-buying-car-interest-rates-new-jobs-2024-3">stuck in place</a>.What's on deck:<ul><li>Markets: Some investors are betting big on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/commercial-real-estate-market-bottom-crash-blackstone-goldman-sachs-2024-3">rebound in commercial real estate</a>.</li><li>Tech: Instagram is on a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-instagram-stories-reels-made-comeback-beat-tiktok-2024-3">comeback tour</a>.</li><li>Business: The number of Amazon staff put on PIPs spiked from spring 2022 through early 2023, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hr-document-employees-pip-layoffs-performance-improvement-plans-2024-3">according to an HR document</a>.</li></ul>But first, don't move a muscle.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today">sign up here.</a><h3>The big story</h3><h2>Economic freeze</h2><div type="image" title="An illustration of an American quarter coin in a spiderweb." height="1000" width="2000" msid="108654261" hostid="261"></div>For better or worse, we're all stuck in our current economic situations.A "trapped in place" economy is in full swing. Bad buying conditions coupled with everyday high prices means <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-housing-market-mortgage-buying-car-interest-rates-new-jobs-2024-3">consumers can't make any major life changes</a>, writes Business Insider's Emily Stewart.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-ice-age-higher-home-prices-fewer-sales-inventory-2023-5">housing market</a> is the most obvious casualty of this economic game of freeze tag. High prices, unrelenting mortgage rates, and low inventory have kept buyers and sellers mostly on the sidelines.But it's not the only area of the economy that's stuck, Emily writes. The car-buying and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/january-jobs-report-labor-market-good-economy-inflation-wages-2024-2">job markets</a> are also stalled.As a result, many of us are treading water with no clear destination in sight. And for plenty of people used to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ambition-breakup-burnout-depression-anxiety-pandemic-layoffs-creator-economy-2024-3">gunning for the next big personal or professional move</a>, that can be an uncomfortable position.<div type="image" title="An illustration of two people in suits, reaching for a home that is being taken away from them." height="1500" width="2000" msid="108654264" hostid="261"></div>There is one thing that could melt the economic freeze.High borrowing costs are one of the key things keeping the status quo firmly in place. It's tough to take big swings when the cost of capital is so high.It's also one of the main reasons there's a disconnect between how Americans feel about the economy versus what the numbers show, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-interest-rates-why-americans-hate-economy-harvard-inflation-biden-2024-3">according to at least one group of economists</a>.The Federal Reserve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/is-federal-reserve-cutting-interest-rates-march-meeting-powell-inflation-2024-3">isn't expected to announce a rate cut this afternoon</a>. But Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments after the Federal Open Market Committee's announcement could provide clues for when relief will arrive. (These days, a good chunk of the market <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">is betting it'll come in June</a>.)But regardless of when rates are cut, consumers might still need to do a bit of soul searching to realize the past is the past. Plenty of financial experts — including one of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ken-griffin-inflation-linger-decades-ukraine-israel-hamas-gaza-war-2023-11">most successful hedge fund managers</a> — predict high inflation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-cpi-december-come-back-transitory-suez-canal-red-sea-2024-1">will stick around for years</a>.And the idea the Fed will snap back to a zero-rate environment — partly what got us into this economic mess in the first place — seems like a pipedream. Mortgage rates under 3% are likely a relic of the past.So, while consumers lament being stuck in place, they should also avoid getting stuck looking to the past.<h2>3 things in markets</h2><div type="image" title="A large city with a discounted price tag" height="1000" width="2000" msid="108654266" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>Pain in commercial real estate means opportunities for Wall Street. Investors like Blackstone and Steve Mnuchin are wading into the troubled CRE market, indicating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/commercial-real-estate-market-bottom-crash-blackstone-goldman-sachs-2024-3">the industry could be ready to rebound</a>. The signs are there, from an increase in single-family rental dealmaking to prices on commercial mortgage-backed securities rising.</li><li>Is investing in sports fair or foul? JPMorgan just set up its own <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgan-just-launched-a-new-sports-investment-baking-group-2024-3">sports investment banking team</a> as hype builds ahead of a crucial NFL meeting. Some have questioned whether sky-high team valuations could be entering bubble territory, but a study showed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investing-in-sports-teams-nfl-bubble-study-2024-3">why sports investments remain a good deal for firms</a>. The MLB and NFL outperformed stock, bonds, and private equity on a 20-plus-year basis, according to the authors.</li><li>You can thank bankers for the US's "vibrant" economy. That's according to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, who <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bank-of-america-brian-moynihan-economy-vibrant-banks-2024-3">shrugged off calls for regulation</a> after NYCB's recent wobble. Capitalism and the banking system have helped the US economy weather the pandemic, higher interest rates, two wars, trade debates, and shipping restrictions, he said.</li></ol><h2>3 things in tech</h2><div type="image" title="Instagram logo with a crown" height="1500" width="2000" msid="108654268" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>How Instagram got its mojo back. Just a few years ago, it felt like Instagram's relevance was fading. But after beating out TikTok in growth last year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-instagram-stories-reels-made-comeback-beat-tiktok-2024-3">the app is on a comeback tour</a>, thanks partially to the rise of Threads.</li><li>OpenAI is poised to release the next version of ChatGPT. It's on course to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-launch-better-gpt-5-chatbot-2024-3">put out GPT-5 sometime mid-year</a>, two people familiar with the company told BI. "It's really good, like materially better," one CEO who recently saw the new version of the intelligent language tool said.</li><li>Welcome to the super-chip era. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang ushered in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-ready-to-be-boss-of-super-chip-era-2024-3">new phase for the AI sector</a> when he unveiled the B200 chip on Monday. The semiconductor giant clearly demonstrated that it "<a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nvidia-stock-price-outlook-wall-street-reaction-gtc-gpu-blackwell-2024-3">continues to be 1-2 steps ahead of its competitors</a>," JPMorgan said.</li></ol><h2>3 things in business</h2><div type="image" title="Andy Jassy" height="900" width="1200" msid="108654270" hostid="261"></div><ol><li>A PIP spike at Amazon. An official HR document shows the number of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hr-document-employees-pip-layoffs-performance-improvement-plans-2024-3">Amazon staff put on performance-improvement plans</a> spiked from spring 2022 through early 2023 — a time when the company was going through major layoffs. Some employees saw it as a "quiet firing" tactic.</li><li>Domo's CEO stepped down in 2022 after being accused of sexual assault. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/domo-josh-james-ceo-assault-allegations-2024-2">Josh James stepped down as the data analytics company's CEO</a> after the alleged assault in late 2021, according to police reports and employees. He was never charged, and returned as CEO in 2023.</li><li>Microsoft adds more AI talent. The tech giant has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-just-stepped-up-ai-game-against-google-mustafa-suleyman-2024-3">hired Google DeepMind cofounder Mustafa Suleyman</a> to lead a new group spearheading all its consumer AI initiatives, including its Copilot chatbot. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/satya-nadella-microsoft-mustafa-suleyman-sam-altman-ai-2024-3">It's not the first time CEO Satya Nadella has tried to add a big name to his stable</a>.</li></ol><h2>In other news</h2><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-ballmer-son-pete-net-worth-generational-wealth-2024-3">My dad is billionaire Steve Ballmer. Here's what it was like growing up rich — and being kind of ashamed of it</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/databricks-acquires-startup-lilac-ai-to-beef-up-its-llm-offerings-2024-3">Exclusive: Databricks acquires startup Lilac AI to beef up its LLM offerings amidst AI arms race</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-could-attack-us-satellites-from-moon-warns-general-2024-3">China may be developing plans to take out US satellites from the moon, Space Force general says</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-property-crisis-csrc-accuses-evergrande-founder-falsify-revenue-fraud-2024-3">Beijing says Evergrande and its tycoon founder committed a $78 billion fraud. That would rank it as one of the biggest financial frauds ever</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-cities-fastest-growing-populations-of-millionaires-report-2024-3">The US is undergoing a 'millionaire remix' — these are the cities with the fastest-growing populations of rich people.</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hongshan-former-sequoia-china-fund-exploring-european-tech-market-sources-2024-3">HongShan split from Sequoia last year as US-China relations worsened. Now, it's eyeing up Europe</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-resilient-office-how-workplaces-evolving-after-pandemic-2024-3">From offices that look like Apple stores to private call booths, here are 5 ways your workplace is changing</a>.</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/etiquette-firm-teaches-workers-how-to-behave-in-office-business-2024-3">This company charges from $350 an hour to teach people how to behave at work</a>.</li></ul><h2>What's happening today</h2><ul><li>The Federal Open Market Committee will make a decision on interest rates.</li><li>Reddit is expected to announce its final IPO pricing.</li><li>Astera Labs shares are expected to commence trading on NASDAQ.</li></ul>The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/hallam-bullock">Hallam Bullock</a>, editor, in London. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/george-glover">George Glover</a>, reporter, in London.

Consumers frustrated by the economy might never get the relief they're ultimately hoping for

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US stock futures inched upward on Friday as positive inflation news was offset by banking concerns.</li><li>The core PCE Price Index slowed to 2.8% for the year to January, raising hopes of swift rate cuts.</li></ul>US stocks were set to inch higher at Friday's market open, as <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-news-indexes-inflation-data-federal-reserve-economy-investors-2024-2">good news on the inflation front</a> was tempered by fresh concerns about <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/nycb-stock">New York Community Bancorp</a>.<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/futures/s&amp;p-500-futures?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" rel="">S&amp;P 500 futures</a> climbed 0.1%, <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/futures/nasdaq-100-futures?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" rel="">Nasdaq 100</a> futures rose 0.3%, and <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/futures/dow-futures?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" rel="">Dow Jones Industrial Average futures</a> were flat shortly after 9:30 a.m. ET.The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index — the Fed's preferred inflation gauge — rose by 0.4% between December and January. But it slightly slowed on a 12-month basis to 2.8%, fueling hopes that inflation is under control and the Federal Reserve may feel comfortable cutting interest rates soon."Thank God! Yesterday's inflation report from the US wasn't worse than expected," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, in a morning note."Yesterday's data hinted at an inflation uptick in January, but the data came as a relief for those who were prepared for the worst," she added.Even so, Wall Street was rattled by a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-community-bank-nycb-shares-turmoil-ceo-internal-controls-crisis-2024-3">flurry of concerning updates from NYCB</a>. The regional lender recently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nycb-regional-bank-fears-commercial-real-estate-turmoil-fears-2024-2">stoked fears</a> of another banking fiasco by disclosing a surprise loss, slashing its dividend, and setting aside more than $500 million to cover loan losses as the volume of likely bad debts on its books had soared.NYCB announced on Thursday that it had replaced its CEO with immediate effect, and admitted to "material weaknesses" in its loan-review process, ranging from oversight and monitoring to risk assessment. The stock is already down more than 50% this year, and plunged a further 25% in Friday's premarket.The key <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/rates/u-s--rates-10-years?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" rel="">10-year Treasury yield</a> was almost flat at 4.27%. The <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/index/us-dollar-index?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets" rel="">US Dollar Index</a> was also treading water at around 104 points.Companies scheduled to report earnings later include Pearson, Nexgen Energy, and Plug Power. Wall Street was looking forward to updates on manufacturing, construction, and consumer sentiment, as well as commentary from Fed regional presidents including Mary Daly of San Francisco and Raphael Bostic of Atlanta.

Stock market today: NYCB plunges 25% as fresh banking fears temper inflation relief

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Federal Reserve will make its last interest rate decision of 2023 this week.</li><li>It's expected to announce a continued pause on interest rate increases.</li></ul>The nation's central bank is about to make its last big decision of 2023. It could signify good things to come for Americans in the new year.On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will announce whether it will continue its pause on interest rate increases, and market-based predictions expect it to do just that — the CME FedWatch Tool, which estimates probabilities for interest rate changes, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">predicted</a> a 98% chance the Fed will continue its pause as of Tuesday morning.The Fed has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rates-november-fed-decision-no-increase-cut-inflation-powell-2023-11">tapped the brakes on its war against inflation</a> in the past few Federal Open Market Committee meetings following <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-federal-reserve-paused-its-interest-rate-hikes-2023-6">a series of consecutive rate hikes</a>, and it's a good sign for the country's pandemic recovery — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-consumer-price-index-november-economic-outlook-fed-interest-rate-2023-12">inflation has continued to cool</a> based on new Consumer Price Index data out Tuesday, inching toward the Fed's 2% inflation target.That report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that consumer prices overall rose 3.1% year over year in November. That's just below October's change of 3.2%. The energy index saw a year-over-year decline of 5.4% in November while shelter increased by 6.5%.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated during the press conference after November's meeting that while inflation is still not where it needs to be, he's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rates-cut-wont-happen-anytime-soon-federal-reserve-inflation-2023-11">confident in the progress the economy has made</a>."The risk of doing too much versus the risk of doing too little are getting more closer to balance," he said.However, he did note that interest rate cuts are not the central bank's focus right now."We're not talking about rate cuts," Powell said. "We're still very focused on the first question, which is, have we achieved a stance of monetary policy that's sufficiently restrictive to bring inflation down to 2% over time sustainably?"Additionally, while some people in the labor market, such as many in corporate work, may be finding it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-search-switch-harder-to-get-job-hiring-labor-market-2023-12">harder to change jobs</a> compared to 2022, the labor market is still robust. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unemployment-rate-job-growth-november-labor-market-2023-12">US labor market </a>added 199,000 jobs in November, according to new Bureau of Labor Statistics data published Friday. That was above the forecast of 180,000.The labor force participation rate improved from 62.7% in October to 62.8% in November, which was also the rate back in August and September. The unemployment rate declined from 3.9% in October to 3.7% in November. Wage growth also hasn't been surging and instead has generally slowed, based on year over year changes of average hourly earnings.Despite the steady decline in nominal wage growth, there are signs that the pressure could be easing off on Americans' wallets. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/realer.pdf">news release from BLS</a> on Tuesday showed real average hourly earnings was still positive, with a month-over-month increase of 0.2% in November, like it was in October. Year-over-year, the increase was 0.8% in November. With another positive data point, workers are seeing their buying power edge back up amid the inflation slowdown.Amid average hourly earnings "slowing very gradually," Julia Pollak, the chief economist at ZipRecruiter, told Business Insider "the Fed will be rather pleased" with the employment report out on Friday."I think they wish they were seeing a faster slowdown in wage growth," Pollak said.She noted average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees rose 4.3% year over year in November. That comes after year-over-year increases of 4.4% for both September and October.Nick Bunker, economic research director for North America at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told Business Insider on Friday after the release of the new jobs data that the Fed will "enjoy what they see," at least in the short term, and that they will "do nothing in the sense that as expected, I don't think this is going to push them either way in December."Bunker said he thinks the Fed "can continue to be patient in figuring out what the right level of interest rate's going to be over the long term because it doesn't look as though the labor market is really deteriorating" and has found "a good balance" after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-market-hiring-july-unemployment-rate-2023-8">running hot</a> as the country recovered from the pandemic.Of course, interest rate cuts are likely top of many Americans' minds as they enter 2024. Even though Powell has not indicated when cuts might happen, Bank of America recently predicted that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rates-when-will-federal-reserve-cut-bank-of-america-2023-11">interest rate cuts will come in the middle of next year</a>."2023 defied almost everyone's expectations: recessions that never came, rate cuts that didn't materialize, bond markets that didn't bounce, except in short-lived, vicious spurts, and rising equities that pained most investors who remained cautiously underweight," Candace Browning, head of BofA Global Research, said in a statement. "We expect 2024 to be the year when central banks can successfully orchestrate a soft landing, though recognize that downside risks may outnumber the upside ones."Bunker said recent wage growth trends seem "very sustainable and consistent with low inflation."He said he thinks the Fed will "be heartened by this and it's probably going to allow them to take stock of what's happening with inflation." Bunker added if this continues, then it would add to the likelihood of a soft landing.

The Fed's last big decision of 2023 could set Americans up for some relief next year

A meeting of top health experts called by the Centre on Thursday deliberated on the need for revisiting existing guidelines on management of <keyword id="7616951" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="monkeypox" source="Orion">monkeypox</keyword> amid rising number of cases of the disease in the country. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has so far reported nine cases of monkeypox including one death. "It was a technical meeting to revisit the existing guidelines," an official said. The meeting was chaired by Dr L Swasticharan, director of <keyword id="174300" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="emergency-medical-relief" source="Orion">Emergency Medical Relief</keyword> and attended by officials from the <keyword id="86950" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-aids-control-organisation" source="Orion">National Aids Control Organisation</keyword>, National Centre for Disease Control and World Health Organisation (<keyword id="6366244" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="who" source="Orion">WHO</keyword>) representatives. According to existing 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease' issued by the Centre, any person having a history of travel to affected countries within the last 21 days presenting with an unexplained acute rash and symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, fever, headaches, body aches and profound weakness is to be considered to be a 'suspected case'. A 'probable case' has to be a person meeting the case definition for a suspected case, clinically compatible illness and has an epidemiological link like face-to-face exposure, including health care workers without appropriate PPE, direct physical contact with skin or skin lesions, including sexual contact, or contact with contaminated material such as clothing, bedding or utensils. A case is considered laboratory confirmed for monkeypox virus by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA either by polymerase chain reaction (<keyword id="6361808" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pcr" source="Orion">PCR</keyword>) and/or sequencing. Defining contacts, the guidelines stated that a contact is defined as a person who, in the period beginning with the onset of the source case's first symptoms, and ending when all scabs have fallen off, has had one or more of the exposures-- face-to-face exposure, direct physical contact, including sexual contact, contact with contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding --- with a probable or confirmed case of monkey pox. Cases can be prompted to identify contacts across household, workplace, school/nursery, sexual contacts, <keyword id="6354525" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="healthcare" source="Orion">healthcare</keyword>, houses of worship, transportation, sports, social gatherings, and any other recalled interactions. Contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of signs/symptoms for a period of 21 days from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated material during the infection period. In case of occurrence of fever clinical/lab evaluation is warranted. Asymptomatic contacts should not donate blood, cells, tissue, organs or semen while they are under surveillance. Pre-school children may be excluded from day care, nursery, or other group settings. The ministry guidelines state that human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets generally requiring prolonged close contact. It can also be transmitted through direct contact with body fluids or lesions, and indirect contact with lesion material such as through contaminated clothing or linen of an infected person. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by bite or scratch of infected animals or through bushmeat preparation. The incubation period is usually from six to 13 days and the case fatality rate of monkeypox has historically ranged up to 11 per cent in the general population and higher among children. In recent times, the case fatality rate has been around three to six per cent. The symptoms include lesions which usually begin within one to three days from the onset of fever, lasting for around two to four weeks and are often described as painful until the healing phase when they become itchy. The WHO had recently declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern. According to WHO, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis -- a virus transmitted to humans from animals -- with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severe. Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks. International passengers have been asked to avoid contact with dead or live wild animals such as small mammals including rodents like rats and squirrels and non-human primates like monkeys and apes. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/why-api-security-needs-to-be-top-priority-for-business-enterprises/articleshow/93343626.cms">Why API security needs to be top priority for business enterprises</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/binance-co-founder-yi-he-to-head-its-7-5-billion-vc-arm/articleshow/93343198.cms">Binance co-founder Yi He to head its $7.5 billion VC arm</a>

Monkey pox: Centre holds health expert meet after 9 cases and 1 death

Prices are accurate at the time of publication.<ul class="summary-list"><li>Having pain at the base of your skull could indicate a tension headache or neck injury.</li><li>If you're experiencing a shooting pain or pain behind the eyes, it may be occipital neuralgia.</li></ul>Most of us will experience a headache at some point in our lives, but not all headaches are the same. How intense the pain is, how long it lasts, and its location on your head can indicate whether you are experiencing a typical headache or something more serious. Pain at the base of the skull, for example, can be a sign of an underlying medical condition that may require treatment, says <a href="https://www.providence.org/doctors/neurology/ca/mission-viejo/joey-gee-1710058698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Joey Gee</a>, medical director of the <a href="https://www.psjhmedgroups.org/South-Orange-County/Services/Neurology/Mission-Concussion-Clinic.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concussion clinic</a> at <a href="https://www.psjhmedgroups.org/South-Orange-County.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Providence Mission Hospital</a>. Here are four reasons why you might experience pain at the base of your skull and potential treatment options for each cause. <h2>1. Tension headache</h2>This is the most common <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/types-of-headaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">type of headache</a>, estimated to <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8257-tension-type-headaches#:~:text=Researchers%20estimate%20that%20as%20many,headaches%20more%20often%20than%20men." target="_blank" rel="noopener">affect about two in three adults in the US</a> at some point. A <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/tension-headache" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tension headache</a> is typically described as a tight feeling across the forehead, but the pain can also extend to the sides and back of the head and down to the neck, Gee says.Common causes of tension headaches are <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/can-stress-make-you-sick" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stress</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/lack-of-sleep-effects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lack of sleep</a>. But you may also experience a tension headache if you strain a <a href="https://brighamhealthhub.org/that-tension-headache-may-be-a-pain-in-the-neck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">group of muscles at the base of the skull</a> called suboccipital muscles.These muscles can become tense due to <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/fitness/how-to-fix-posture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poor posture</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/why-are-my-eyes-red" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eye strain</a>, or another injury, like whiplash. <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/whiplash-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whiplash</a>, in particular, can be responsible for a tension headache that starts at the base of your skull and extends to the rest of your head. Treatment for tension headaches depends on the underlying cause but can include:<ul><li><a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/tension-headaches" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifestyle changes</a>, like exercising regularly, <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/mental-health/stress-relief" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stress management techniques</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-to-sleep-better" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improving sleep hygien</a>e so you get <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/how-much-sleep-do-you-need" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adequate rest</a>. </li><li>Over-the-counter pain relievers, like Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can offer temporary relief but if the headaches are recurring, it's important to address the underlying cause.</li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prescription medications</a>, including tricyclic antidepressants or muscle relaxers. </li><li>Icing or heating your neck and gentle range of motion exercises can help ease pain caused by <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/whiplash-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whiplash</a>. </li><li>Physical therapy may help <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316547/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improve symptoms</a> through massage and mobility exercises. </li></ul><h2>2. Occipital neuralgia</h2>Occipital neuralgia is a condition caused by <a href="https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Occipital-Neuralgia#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20occipital%20neuralgia%20include,affected%20side%20of%20the%20head." target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflammation or injury to the nerves</a> running from the top of the spine to the head, says <a href="https://atlaspainspecialists.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Sean Ormond</a>, a pain management doctor with <a href="https://atlaspainspecialists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atlas Pain Specialists</a>. This inflammation can result in throbbing, shock-like pain at the back of the head or the base of the skull.Causes of occipital neuralgia include:<ul><li>Trauma to the back of the head</li><li>An infection of the nerves </li><li>Pinched nerves or muscle tightness in the neck</li><li>Arthritis in the upper cervical spine</li><li>Gout</li><li>Diabetes</li></ul>In addition to throbbing pain at the base of the skull, other symptoms of occipital neuralgia include:<ul><li>Pain behind the eyes</li><li>Shooting pains that start at the base of the head and go to the scalp</li><li>An aching or burning sensation at the base of the skull</li></ul>Treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and your medical history, but may include:<ul><li>Physical therapy</li><li>Massage therapy</li><li>Medications, such as muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatories</li><li>Surgical treatments, such as occipital nerve stimulation or spinal cord stimulation, which can help reduce pain by producing electrical impulses to block pain messages between the spinal cord and brain. </li></ul><h2>3. Herniated cervical discs</h2>Spinal discs are cushioned shock absorbers that sit between the bones, or vertebrae, of your spine. The discs located in your neck are called cervical discs. An injury or repetitive strain on your neck can <a href="https://peakperformanceclinics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">damage</a> those <a href="https://peakperformanceclinics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cervical discs</a>, causing them to herniate, or push the inner part of the disc out. This can irritate the tissue and nerves in the area. You may be at an increased risk of a herniated disc if you have a <a href="https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Herniated-Disc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">family history of herniated discs</a> or you are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3599747/#:~:text=Cervical%20disc%20herniation%2C%20a%20well,age%20of%20around%2050%20years." target="_blank" rel="noopener">over the age of 40</a>. This is because disc material naturally degenerates as we age and the ligaments that hold the discs in place also begin to weaken. As a result, a mild <a href="https://www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Herniated-Disc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strain on the neck</a> or an abrupt twisting motion that wouldn't cause damage in a younger individual can lead to a herniated disc in an older adult. If the herniated disc is not pushing on a nerve, you may not experience much pain at all, and the disc will <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12768-herniated-disk#:~:text=A%20herniated%20disk%20is%20also,with%20simple%20home%2Dcare%20measures." target="_blank" rel="noopener">heal on its own</a>. However, if the herniated disc is pinching a nerve, you may experience pain, numbness, and tingling in parts of the body affected by the pinched nerve. If the disc is in your neck, you may feel pain in there and at the base of the skull. Other symptoms <a href="https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/herniated-disc/cervical-herniated-disc-signs-and-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a>:<ul><li>Pain in your shoulder, arm, or hand</li><li>Weakness in the affected area</li><li>A sharp or shooting pain down your shoulder or arm when you cough or sneeze</li><li>Numbness or tingling in your arms </li><li>Neck stiffness</li></ul>Treatment for a herniated cervical disc may <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">include</a>:<ul><li>Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. </li><li>Prescription medications, such as muscle relaxers</li><li>Physical therapy</li><li>In severe cases, surgery to remove the protruding disc </li></ul><h2>4. Medication overuse</h2>People who take pain relievers <a href="https://patient.info/brain-nerves/headache-leaflet/medication-overuse-headache" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two or more days a week</a> for headaches may experience "<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stopping-the-vicious-cycle-of-rebound-headaches-2019110718180#:~:text=Rebound%20headaches%2C%20also%20known%20as,which%20should%20be%20taken%20daily.)" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebound headaches</a>" that can cause pain at the base of the skull, Gee says. Doctors don't yet know exactly why frequently using pain relievers can actually trigger headaches in some people, but any acute pain-relieving medication has the potential to lead to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/medication-overuse-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20377083" target="_blank" rel="noopener">medication overuse headaches</a>. Some of these include:<ul><li>Acetaminophen</li><li>Over-the-counter combination pain relievers, such as Excedrin</li><li>Certain migraine medications, like Zomig or Ergomar</li></ul>In most cases, medication overuse headaches stop when you stop taking the medication that is triggering them. However, if you deal with frequent headaches, simply not taking pain medication may not be an option. Talk with your doctor about the frequency of your headaches, any pain relievers you are currently using to treat your headaches, and the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest stopping one of these medications or slowly tapering off. <h2>When to see a doctor</h2>If you experience headaches four or more days a month or your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, talk with your doctor about treatment options. These may include preventive medication or lifestyle changes that can help reduce the frequency of your headachesAlso, seek medical attention if you experience pain at the base of your skull accompanied by:<ul><li>Shooting pain down one or both of your arms</li><li>Numbness or tingling in your arms</li><li>Pain behind the eyes</li><li>Shooting pains that start at the base of the head and go to the scalp</li><li>Changes in vision</li><li>Nausea or vomiting</li></ul><h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>Pain at the base of the skull can be a symptom of the most common type of headache known as a tension headache. Tension headaches are not usually a cause for concern and can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.But pain at the base of the skull may also signal a serious medical issue like occipital neuralgia or a herniated disc.Treatment options for occipital neuralgia or a herniated cervical disc may include physical therapy, medication, or surgery.

4 reasons why you have pain at the base of your skull, including overusing common painkillers

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10881461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lumber-prices">Lumber prices</keyword> notch their ninth consecutive weekly loss after a brief resurgence earlier in the week.</li><li>The price of the key building material has slid about 60% from its peak in early May. </li><li>A shift in spending away from DIY home projects is impacting the market, says Bank of America.</li></ul>Prices for lumber suffered another weekly loss and descended to levels not seen in roughly six months as the market contends with signs of softening demand and easing shortages. Lumber prices on Friday fell about 4% to trade at $689 per thousand board feet. That move brought lumber below $700 for the first time since mid-January. Lumber <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/news/lumber-prices-today-rebound-sharply-plummeting-record-highs-commodities-2021-7">during the holiday-shortened week had pushed higher</a>, stoking the possibility of finding relief. But the advances proved short-lived, leading to the material notching its ninth consecutive weekly loss. Prices have tumbled by roughly 60% since their peak of $1,670 per thousand board feet on May 7. One potential factor in pushing lumber lower is consumers allocating funds to businesses such as those specializing in hospitality and travel as more Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19. About 48% of the population has been fully vaccinated, according to the <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. "Our recent research … suggests a combination of high housing and wood product prices and the shift of expenditures to services in the reopening (from do-it-yourself [DIY] home projects) has negatively impacted new and repair/remodel construction expenditures," wrote Bank of America analysts on Friday. Meanwhile, dealers and builders are likely decelerating purchases leading up to a slowdown in construction that's typical in summer months, they said. "This is especially true given long lead times - the concern being that today's order of lumber shows up at the beginning of August just as prices move down at an even stronger pace." Signs of easing in lumber shortages have also fostered the pullback in prices. Sawmills have reportedly ramped up output after the pandemic prompted producers to stop work. Lumber prices leapt to nearly $1,700 this year in part on a surge in demand for the building material as people stuck at home by the pandemic took up home improvement projects.

Lumber prices just dropped for a 9th straight week amid slowing DIY spending

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Biden's stimulus helped pad state budgets across the country.</li><li>Now, more are channeling booming budgets and issuing so-called "inflation relief" checks.</li></ul>It may not seem obvious at first glance, but President Joe Biden is still putting cash into people's pockets during a punishing stretch of inflation.The $1.9 trillion stimulus law that Democrats enacted in March 2021 without Republican support is helping set the stage for another round of relief payments at the state level. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/no-federal-stimulus-payments-states-relief-checks-money-2022-7">At least 18 states</a> including California and Florida have taken that step this year with Congress gridlocked on how to deal with the worst inflation in four decades.The law set aside $350 billion in aid for state and local governments aimed at preventing layoffs or big cuts to public services. Few strings were attached to the money to guarantee flexibility and it largely amounted to a blank check for states and municipalities. But those fears of job losses and wrecked budgets <a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fstates-are-swimming-in-cash-thanks-to-booming-tax-revenue-and-federal-aid-11642761003">never materialized</a>, so states spent less than expected. In addition, a <a href="https://www.nasbo.org/reports-data/fiscal-survey-of-states">spring report</a> from the National Association of State Budget Officers found nearly all states reported pulling in far more tax revenue than originally forecasted.Now, as Ben Gitis, associate director of the economic program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, told Insider, states are "sitting on a bunch of extra cash" from budget surpluses. A growing number are channeling booming budgets into a fresh wave of checks to help middle and low-income families plug widening holes in their finances."We've seen that money flow through a couple of different channels to provide people with — one way or another — tax refunds to help them with rising costs," Adam Ruben, campaign director of the Economic Security Project, a group that advocates for cash payments, told Insider. "We've seen some states use them to do these kinds of direct checks.""It demonstrates just how much pain inflation is causing today," Gitis said. "And there's a political necessity for all politicians to do something about it because of the costs it's having on the typical household."Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — a Republican widely considered to be eyeing a 2024 presidential bid — <a href="https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2022/01/12/desantis-spending-priorities-financed-washington-dolars/9174969002/">assailed the Biden stimulus law</a> as "Washington at its worst" last year. Yet <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-florida-families-receive-low-income-checks-offset-inflation-2022-7">the state announced last week</a> that it's using $36 million from the American Rescue Plan to issue a $450 check per-kid to the poorest 60,000 Floridian families. That's on top of <a href="https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/03/31/desantis-announces-another-round-of-1k-bonuses-for-first-responders/">$1,000 cash bonuses</a> to first-responders using federal aid in the spring.The source of Florida's next relief checks is <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/family-income-support/temporary-assistance-for-needy-families#:~:text=These%20funds%20allow%20states%2C%20U.S.,or%20SNAP%20participants%20with%20children.">$1 billion in extra funds</a> through the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Program, an initiative <a href="https://www.floridapolicy.org/posts/stimulus-checks-will-provide-a-small-boost-to-some-of-the-poorest-children-in-florida">within the</a> Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF is a federal safety net program operated at the state level that distributes cash aid to impoverished families.The pot of money under the pandemic TANF program must be spent by Sept. 30 or else state governments must return it to the Treasury Department. It's possible that more may follow Florida's lead and distribute it as one-time payments to low-income families."It's to a state's advantage to get those funds out to families. Otherwise, they'll just lose it," Donna Pavetti, the vice president for Family Income Support Policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told Insider. "Those payments are providing relief to families at a time when their expenses are higher."Some economists are wary of states providing relief payments, arguing that it'll only drive up inflation. It's <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonfurman/status/1546834724055912449?s=21&amp;t=Ue7Kz5wetAmjazzqKE_oiw">a view shared</a> by Jason Furman, a former top economist to President Barack Obama. Gitis argues that any bump in inflation is likely to be minimal since states are generally targeting "inflation relief" payments to smaller portion of the public. It's a huge contrast from last year's $1,400 stimulus check program that the vast majority of Americans qualified for.With supply chains further clogged up due to the war in Ukraine, it's likely inflation will remain stubbornly high. As Will Ragland, a political researcher for the liberal Center for American Progress, said, Biden's stimulus law seems poised to still assist people financially: "This bill is designed to deal with the economic impacts from the pandemic, period."

Biden is still sending relief checks to help families deal with inflation

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Neck pain can be acute, which means it happens suddenly, or chronic, which means it comes and goes.</li><li>Common causes of neck pain include injuries, arthritis, poor posture, and fibromyalgia.</li><li>If rest, OTC pain relievers, and time don't ease your pain, connect with a doctor for more guidance.</li></ul>Neck pain is relatively common — in fact, one <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537482/#bib0205" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017 study</a> involving 600 participants found that 20.3% complained of neck pain. Many of the reasons behind neck pain aren't serious. All the same, knowing your pain isn't caused by a major issue won't necessarily keep you from worrying about that crick in your neck. So what's most likely to be causing your neck pain? Muscular-related and degenerative arthritic issues are common culprits, says <a href="https://physicians.umassmemorial.org/details/3156/michael-stauff-orthopedics-spine-shrewsbury-westborough-worcester" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michael P. Stauff</a>, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center. To help determine the cause, you first need to identify what type of neck pain you're experiencing.<h2>Types of neck pain</h2>Acute pain, or pain that crops up suddenly, is often caused by muscle strains or sprains. Most instances of acute neck pain will go away within a few days with the help of over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatories and rest, says <a href="https://thecoreinstitute.com/provider/ali-araghi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ali Arghi</a>, DO, an orthopedic spine surgeon at <a href="https://thecoreinstitute.com/location/sun-city-west-spine-center/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The CORE Institute Sun City West Spine Center</a>. Chronic pain, which may involve constant soreness or pain that comes and goes, is more likely to happen because of an underlying degenerative condition. "Many degenerative conditions will start as intermittent pain, which becomes more common and recurring as time and the condition progress," says Arghi. Read on to learn more about some of the most common causes of neck pain, along with tips to get relief.<h2>1. Poor sitting and sleep posture</h2>Hunching over your desk for hours on end, craning your neck to stare at your phone, or sleeping on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9041902/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifeless pillows</a> that provide little support can all <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6942109/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">potentially contribute</a> to muscle-related neck pain. To reduce instances of neck pain, Araghi shares a few tips:<ul><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-fix-posture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avoid slouching</a> whenever possible. Try not to bend your neck too far forward or backward, and keep your shoulders and back straight when sitting or standing.</li><li>Keep <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-office-chair#best-ergonomic-office-chair-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ergonomics</a> in mind when setting up your <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ergonomics-specialist-work-from-home-comfortably-safely-cheap-2020-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">workspace</a>. For example, positioning your screen <a href="https://ehs.unc.edu/workplace-safety/ergonomics/office/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at or below eye level</a> can help you avoid craning your neck.</li><li>Avoid repetitive overhead lifting that can strain the neck.</li></ul>If you keep waking up with a sore neck, your <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-pillow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pillow</a> or <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/home/best-mattress" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mattress</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19005925/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could be</a> the problem. Consider replacing them with more supportive options.Also, falling asleep in an awkward position or otherwise straining the neck can cause underlying conditions, like arthritis, to flare up, says Stauff. If pain keeps coming back despite your best efforts, it may be a good idea to talk to a doctor. <h2>2. Injury</h2>It's no surprise that injuries can also contribute to neck pain. You can experience a neck injury in a variety of scenarios, including:<ul><li>Car accidents</li><li>Sports</li><li>Falls </li></ul>A common type of injury that can cause neck pain is <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/whiplash-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whiplash</a>, which involves a sudden jerking movement of the head and neck. It can take weeks, if not months, for whiplash symptoms to improve — it all depends on the severity of your injury. <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/whiplash-injury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treatment</a> for whiplash or other mild neck injuries may involve:<ul><li>Wearing a cervical collar to support your neck and prevent further strain</li><li>Applying ice to reduce swelling immediately after the injury </li><li>Taking anti-inflammatory medications to limit pain and inflammation</li><li>Taking muscle relaxants </li><li>Participating in physical therapy</li></ul><h3>Herniated cervical disc</h3>Injury or trauma to the neck and upper back can also cause a <a href="https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/orthopedics/cervical-herniated-disc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">herniated cervical disc</a>, which might cause neck pain as an early symptom. Cervical discs cushion the vertebrae of the upper spine. When a disc is herniated, the material inside the disc bulges out, which can cause:<ul><li>Pain that begins in your neck and radiates to your upper extremities</li><li>Numbness in your hands, shoulders, or arms</li><li>Weakness in your arms or hands </li></ul>Sometimes, a herniated disc can lead to <a href="https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cervical-spondylotic-myelopathy-spinal-cord-compression/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spinal stenosis</a>, or compression of the spinal cord, which can also involve neck pain. Both conditions require immediate treatment, which might include: <ul><li>physical therapy </li><li>medications like pain relievers</li><li>nerve root or steroid injections </li><li>surgery if the pain persists and symptoms don't improve</li></ul><h2>3. Arthritis</h2>When you think of arthritis, you might think of someone rubbing the painful knuckles on their hands. Arthritis does commonly affect the hands, but this degenerative disease <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/spinal-arthritis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can also affect the discs and joints in your spine</a>, including those in the neck. Cervical spondylosis is a form of degenerative arthritis (aka osteoarthritis) that specifically affects the neck and is the result of regular wear and tear associated with aging. So this type of arthritis is <a href="https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cervical-spondylosis-arthritis-of-the-neck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">very common</a> in older adults — it affects more than 85% of people over 60.Symptoms include:<ul><li>Noises or sensations when turning your neck, such as grinding or popping</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Numbness in your hands, arms, or fingers if stenosis, or nerve compression, occurs</li><li>Muscle spasms in the shoulders and neck</li></ul><a href="https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/cervical-spondylosis-arthritis-of-the-neck/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Treatment</a> typically involves: <ul><li>Physical therapy</li><li>Medications to limit pain and inflammation, like <a href="https://www.insider.com/acetaminophen-vs-ibuprofen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/best-muscle-rub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ice and heat</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/swedish-massage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massage</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/corticosteroids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Steroid injections </a></li></ul>Your doctor may recommend surgery if you have a pinched spinal nerve or spinal stenosis.Stauff notes that degenerative changes in the spine don't always produce symptoms. "Plenty of people are walking around with a lot of arthritic changes that, on average, are really not causing people too many symptoms," says Stauff. If you're not experiencing symptoms, treatment isn't necessary.<h2>4. Fibromyalgia</h2>Another potential reason for chronic neck pain is fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body. Experts don't know exactly why some people develop this disorder, but if you have rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, you're <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/fibromyalgia.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more likely</a> to develop fibromyalgia.Other symptoms of the condition include:<ul><li>Fatigue</li><li>Depression and <a href="https://www.insider.com/emotional-regulation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anxiety</a></li><li>Difficulty with sleep, including <a href="https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Fibromyalgia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waking up feeling unrested</a></li><li>Issues with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-memory-is-key-to-focus-and-you-can-improve-it-it-in-3-simple-steps-2017-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memory</a> and focus</li><li>Headaches and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/neurologists-debunk-11-headache-and-migraine-myths-2021-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">migraine</a></li></ul>Treatment largely involves self-management strategies like exercise, <a href="https://www.insider.com/aspirin-vs-ibuprofen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pain relievers</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/stress-relief" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stress management</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-sleep-better" target="_blank" rel="noopener">improving sleep habits</a>. <h2>5. Meningitis</h2>This serious condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord and brain membranes requires <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">immediate medical attention</a>. Symptoms, which usually come on suddenly, may include:<ul><li>A stiff neck</li><li>Headache</li><li>Fever</li></ul>You might also experience nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. <h2>6. Heart attack</h2>In some people, <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neck pain may be a symptom of a heart attack</a>, which requires emergency treatment. <a href="https://www.insider.com/signs-of-heart-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Other signs of a heart attack</a> include:<ul><li>Discomfort in the chest area that may feel like squeezing, fullness, pressure, or pain</li><li>Discomfort in the upper body like the neck but also the arms, stomach, jaw, or back</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Cold sweats</li><li>Nausea </li><li>Lightheadedness</li></ul>If you think you or someone else is having a heart attack, call 911. <h2>7. Cancer</h2>Neck pain can also be a symptom of cancer. Thyroid cancer, for example, <a href="https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/head-neck/head-and-neck-cancer-signs-and-symptoms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can cause</a> painful or painless swelling at the front of the neck.Specific symptoms of head and neck cancers depend on the location and type of cancer but <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">may include</a>:<ul><li>A lump in your neck, or pain that doesn't go away</li><li>Sores in your throat or mouth that don't heal</li><li>Constant sore throat that doesn't go away</li><li>Problems swallowing</li><li>Changes in your voice</li><li>Swelling around the jaw or chin</li><li>Numbness in your face </li></ul>A lot of these symptoms can be signs of other non-serious conditions, but if they're bothering you, don't hesitate to talk to a doctor. <h2>Insider's takeaway</h2>If you experience persistent pain that doesn't seem to resolve with rest, anti-inflammatories, and massage, talk to your primary care physician. They can perform a physical exam and refer you to a specialist if necessary."If there's numbness, tingling, or weakness in the shoulder, arms, hands, or fingers, this should not be ignored as it can be a sign of cervical spine nerve compression, which requires immediate treatment," says Araghi. Additionally, if your pain is severe enough to affect your daily activities, that also suggests it's time to see a medical professional, says Stauff.

You Searched For "relief materials" and got 12 results

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