The gap: The female-male life expectancy gap has widened

11/14/23 7:00PM

The difference in life expectancy between men and women in the US has grown to its widest point in nearly 25 years, with females slated to live nearly 6 years longer on average in 2021, according to CDC data.

The CDC’s latest Vital Statistics Report revealed that overall life expectancy — in large part due to Covid-19 deaths — had fallen to 76.4 years, down from 78.8 only 2 years prior, concurrent with a 2.8-year decrease in life expectancy at birth for males, to just 73.5 years.

‍On the basis of sex

‍Since modern record-keeping began, women have consistently lived longer than men, a phenomenon observed around the world that has been linked to genetics, as well as social and economic factors, with everything from hormones to risk-seeking behavior posited as an explanation for the persistent gap.

But, in the US specifically, the gap between the sexes had been narrowing after peaking at 7.8 years in the 1970s. A new study published on Monday puts the more recent widening down to a rise in unintentional injuries (mostly drug overdoses), accidents, suicides, and the pandemic, which disproportionately affected men.

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

Starbucks disclosed on Monday evening in a regulatory filing that it will sell control of its ailing China business to Boyu Capital for about $4 billion.

Under the agreement, Boyu will own a 60% stake in the China segment, which will become a joint venture between Boyu and Starbucks. The coffee chain will retain a 40% interest in the entity and will continue to own and license the brand and intellectual property.

Bloomberg reported earlier this year that the company was looking to sell its China segment. The American coffee giant has struggled to succeed in China, its second-largest market after the US.

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OPEC and others are boosting oil production as the race to catch up with the US goes on

This month’s 137,000-barrel-a-day boost is a little more modest than some expected.

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China, the world’s largest carbon polluter, has pledged to cut emissions for the first time

President Xi Jinping has announced that China is aiming to slash carbon emissions by up to 10% in the next decade.

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John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

Despite a record year of passenger numbers, flight cancellations, and delays, a new survey has revealed that flyers have been increasingly satisfied about their experiences in North American airports.

According to this year’s North America Airport Satisfaction Study from data analysts at J.D. Power, overall passenger satisfaction scores were up 10 points (on a 1,000-point scale), largely from “improvements in food, beverage and retail and ease of travel through the airport.” The annual survey measures overall traveler satisfaction across the region’s airports in seven categories (in order of importance): ease of travel, level of trust, terminal facilities, airport staff, airport departure experience, food and retail, and airport arrival experience.

Here are the region’s favorites:

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More than 40% of American adults now report being online “almost constantly”

While a new survey showed Japan has the greatest share of perpetually online people, there was a significant number reporting not using the internet at all.

The gap: The female-male life expectancy gap has widened

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Starbucks sells control of China business for $4 billion

John Wayne Airport in Orange County tops the list of North America’s favorite airports

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