The Know Daily - Wednesday 24 May 2023

_{Read in 5m 24s ∙ Listening to Lana Del Rey}

Good news for bookworms! Caffè Nero has launched the Nero Book Awards for writers based in the UK and Ireland. Also this week, TikTok announced that it is launching a similar prize with the aim of “celebrating titles, authors, content and creators of BookTok”. Users will be able to vote for their favourite reads via the app, with categories including “Best Book to End a Reading Slump” and “Best Book I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time”.

📉 Inflation latest

UK inflation dropped to 8.7% in April from 10.1% in March - the sharpest fall since the cost-of-living crisis began.

Tell me more.
The inflation rate is the average increase in prices over time, and there are various ways to measure this. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) relate to the consumer prices index, which measures the cost of a “basket” of hundreds of everyday items.

April’s figures represent the first time that inflation has dropped below 10% in eight months. While it’s definitely good that inflation is coming down, it doesn’t mean that prices are falling - just that they’re not going up as quickly.

What’s driving the fall?
Analysts have cited the slower rise in energy bills compared to a year ago - which was the first time that energy prices shot up as a result of Russia’s war with Ukraine - as a key reason for the overall drop in inflation.

At around £2,500 a year, our energy bills are even higher now than they were in April 2022. However, the difference compared with 12 months ago is smaller - and that’s why the overall inflation rate is lower.

What do today’s figures mean for me?
Despite today’s drop in the overall inflation rate, food inflation remains stubbornly high. Today’s figures show that food costs are 19.1% higher than a year ago - only a slight dip from 19.2% in March.

Responding to the latest figures, the BBC’s Peter Ruddick pointed out that the cost of living is still rising at more than four times the Bank of England’s target. “April's numbers are still statistically significant, but they will not have been felt by anyone doing a supermarket shop or struggling to pay their energy bills,” he said.

Is there anything else I should know?
The International Monetary Fund yesterday upgraded its forecasts for UK growth, saying that it no longer expects the country to fall into recession this year.

🤔 Adenomyosis explored

BBC presenter Naga Munchetty has opened up about living with the womb condition adenomyosis, telling her Radio 5 Live listeners that she is in “constant, nagging pain”. Here’s what you need to know about the under-diagnosed condition.

First things first - what is it?
If you hadn’t heard of adenomyosis before now, you’re not the only one! Munchetty told The Independent that she only found out about the condition when she was finally diagnosed with it eight months ago.

Adenomyosis is when the tissue which normally lines the womb grows into the womb’s muscular wall. During menstruation, this tissue swells and bleeds, typically causing heavy periods, bloating and pelvic pain - although some sufferers are asymptomatic.

How is it different from endometriosis?
While both conditions occur when the womb’s lining develops out of place, in endometriosis the rogue tissue develops outside the womb, and can affect the bladder, bowel, ovaries and even the lungs.

It’s possible to suffer from both conditions at the same time - and both adenomyosis and endometriosis can take years to diagnose.

How common is it?
One in 10 women is believed to have adenomyosis, but it’s more common in those aged 40 to 50 and those who have been pregnant before. While the exact cause isn’t known, genetics and hormonesmay be a factor.

According to the NHS, treatment typically includes painkillers and/or hormonal contraception. In “extreme cases”, a hysterectomy may be recommended for those who don’t want to become pregnant.

Why is it under-diagnosed?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that sufferers can wait years to receive a diagnosis, as their symptoms are often dismissed or attributed to other conditions. One woman told The Guardian that it took her almost 30 years to receive a diagnosis after spending her “whole life” on painkillers.

Do you have experience of adenomyosis? We’d love to hear from you - hit reply to let us know.

📺 Netflix crackdown: The streaming platform has started its long-promised crackdown on password sharing in 103 countries and territories. UK users will need to pay £4.99 per month if they want to share their account with someone they don’t live with.

🚨 Boris Johnson: The former PM has been referred to police over allegedly hosting friends at Chequers in lockdown. Johnson has denied breaking strict Covid-19 rules.

📣 Rolf Harris: The convicted sex offender who used his fame to groom young girls died earlier this month at the age of 93, it was reported on Tuesday.

🇺🇸 Ron DeSantis: Florida’s governor will kick off his 2024 Republican presidential primary campaign with a conversation with Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces, the site’s audio platform, this evening. CNN described the news as “a clear finger in the former president’s eye”.

⛽ “Go to hell, Shell”: Climate protesters stormed Shell’s annual shareholder meeting in London on Tuesday - some even reached the front of the room where executives were sitting on stage. See the footage here.

Trivia answer: C) Wore a foul-smelling perfume - the specially-brewed scent, blended from “blood, faecal matter and sweat”, was designed to mimic Henry VIII’s rotting leg. Charming.

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