Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here’s Thursday’s news.
Nicole Fallert here, still excited I saw the eclipse.
America’s inflation salad
From June to July, consumer prices still rose — but at a slower pace than previous months. But wages still aren’t keeping up with cost of living.
American meals are a mix of costs right now: In July, lettuce prices fell 16.4% as consumers shied away from products tied to a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Meats, poultry, fish and eggs costs decreased 0.7% over the month, while dairy and related products got a bit cheaper, too. Still pricy: Nonalcoholic beverages, cereals and bakery products.
Need help on food savings? Read a grocery store insider’s tips.
More news to know now
Eclipse
The sun & the moon align
Some parts of the U.S. and large portions of Europe were treated to a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The sky show isn’t over: Another eclipse is happening soon and the Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight.
Health & Wellness
The dark side of fillers
Looksmaxxing has exploded online over the past year with young men desperately pursuing physical perfection, from chiseled jawlines to flawless abs. But why are so many young men convinced their appearance needs to be fixed, and when does self-improvement turn into self-harm? USA TODAY Senior Wellness Reporter Charles Trepany joins The Excerpt podcast to explain.
Before you go
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.