Lifestyle

News on consumer habits, trends, and lifestyle spending.

Lifestyle
Australia falls short of top 10 in active vitality index
New analysis of WHO data by Compare the Market finds the majority of countries in the top 10 of the active vitality index are in Europe. The scores are based on a combination of a country's average life expectancy, average healthy life expectancy and physical activity levels of a population. The only three non-European nations in the top 10 were Singapore, New Zealand and Bhutan. Australia narrowly missed out on the top 10, ranking 13th overall. A study found that Australia has the fifth highest average life expectancy of 83.10 years, and the 12th highest healthy life expectancy of 70,13 years. Despite this, Australia was let down by the physical activity level of the population with 27.96% of the population not meeting the recommended time spent exercising. There were 102 countries ahead of Australia in activity levels. Compare the Market AU’s Executive Manager of Health Insurance, Steven Spicer said there were many countries in the same boat as Australia with high life expectancy but missing the mark on activity levels. “What was usually common across these countries was that they had higher-quality healthcare available,” Spicer said. “Australia has some of the best healthcare in the world, with a public and
Lifestyle
Accent Group flags flat profits in tough conditions
Shoe retailer Accent Group has flagged flat full-year earnings, as trading conditions remain challenging. The company, whose brands include The Athlete’s Foot, Skechers, Dr. Martens and Timberland, said it expected earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be between $108 million and $111 million for the year ended 29 June 2025. This compares with EBIT of $110.4 million in the 2024 financial year. Accent Group said lower lifestyle footwear market growth from March to early June affected retail and wholesale sales. “The prevailing promotional environment, along with a disciplined focus on managing inventory levels in a lower sales environment, continues to put pressure on gross margins,” the company said in an ASX announcement. Like-for-like sales for the 23 weeks ended 8 June 2025 were 1.0% below the same period a year earlier. Accent Group shares (ASX: AX1) closed 0.5 cents (0.28%) higher at $1.805 on Thursday, capitalising the company at $1.085 billion. Accent Group is a retail and distribution company specialising in performance and lifestyle footwear, apparel, and accessories, which operates over 900 stores under more than 20 retail banners and manages 34 brands.
Lifestyle
Sunny’s in Miami tops Robb Report’s best new eatery list
The Robb Report has revealed their 10 Best New Restaurants of the Year in the United States, with Sunny’s in Miami taking out top spot. Sunny’s Steakhouse started out as a pop-up in 2020 and finally found its forever location in Little River Miami on 2 October 2024. In their review of the restaurant, the Robb Report praised the atmosphere and the food. “The problem with so many restaurants this fun: The food can almost feel like an afterthought to the ambiance,” the article said. “That’s not the case at Sunny’s. Chef Aaron Brooks and team execute a modern steakhouse menu with care. “The beef is cooked over a live-oak fire; the raw seafood is gorgeous; platonic ideals of sides like creamed spinach emerge from the kitchen; ethereal Parker House rolls with honey butter are far from filler; and pastas such as agnolotti with corn and blue crab swimming in a saffron broth could entice you to skip the steak altogether.” The restaurant is owned by the same people behind Downtown Miami’s Jaguar Sun which closed in August of last year. From being an outdoorsy outdoor only restaurant, the space for Sunny’s has been transformed into a modern white table cloth indoor and outdoor venue, aimed at giving a nightly dinner atm
Lifestyle
General Motors to spend US$4bn on domestic plants
General Motors revealed plans on Tuesday to invest US$4 billion (A$6.14 billion) in three United States manufacturing plants, a move aimed at expanding domestic production and potentially reshaping the company’s North American supply chain. The Detroit-based automaker will shift production of two high-demand Chevrolet models - the Blazer and Equinox - from Mexico to U.S. facilities as part of the investment. The plan, spanning two years, will support both gasoline-powered and electric vehicle production, and is expected to lift GM’s domestic assembly capacity to over two million vehicles annually. The investment also includes the conversion of an idle Michigan plant, originally designated for all-electric trucks, to produce gasoline-powered vehicles instead. “We believe the future of transportation will be driven by American innovation and manufacturing expertise,” said GM CEO Mary Barra in a statement. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to build vehicles in the U.S. and to support American jobs. We’re focused on giving customers choice and offering a broad range of vehicles they love.” The news comes at a time of significant political volatility, as trade talks between the U.S. and Mexico
Lifestyle
Baldoni's $400m counter lawsuit tossed by judge
A judge has thrown out Justin Baldoni's $400 million (AU$623 million) defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively. The attempted suit came in response to one of Lively's own, alleging sexual harassment, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and more, which Baldoni continues to deny. The two met working on the set of It Ends With Us, a film adaptation of a popular Colleen Hoover novel of the same name. It premiered in August of last year and shortly after reports of tension between Baldoni and Lively emerged, before the actress made allegations against Baldoni in December. Now, on Monday, Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed Baldoni's countersuit and his additional US$250 million libel lawsuit against the New York Times. Baldoni’s legal team will now have until June 23 to amend their claims. In a statement to Page Six, Lively's legal team called the dismissal a “complete vindication". “As we have said from day one, this ‘$400 million’ lawsuit was a sham, and the Court saw right through it," her attorneys wrote.

Lifestyle
Nissan CEO says major reshuffle will help its position
Nissan's boss has announced a short-term focus to help the automaker get back on its feet, with major reshuffles for the long term. CEO Ivan Espinosa, who only took on the role in April, said the immediate focus of the company is to fix its financial woes. This is followed by a restructuring down the line. Nissan has been struggling with a decline in sales and steep global competition. These factors worsened by the Trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminium. Last month, Espinosa also confirmed that 11,000 jobs would be axed and several manufacturing plants would close. “I think in the short term, the focus that we have is to fix ourselves,” Espinosa told CNBC. “We are convinced that the plan is enough and robust,” he added.
Lifestyle
'Positioned': Lululemon cuts FY guidance as tariffs bite
Shares in Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) plunged 21.91% in after-hours trading after the Vancouver-based activewear company joined a string of retailers to cut full-year earnings guidance. Despite posting better-than-expected first-quarter results, the company now expects full-year diluted earnings per share (EPS) of US$14.58 to US$14.78, down from prior guidance of US$14.95 to US$15.15. Due to cautious U.S. consumers and Trump tariffs as headwinds, second-quarter earnings are also forecast to come in between US$2.85 and US$2.90 per share — well under the consensus estimate of US$3.29. While CEO Calvin McDonald acknowledged the uncertainty that tariffs have brought to the business, he believes the brand is “better positioned than most” to navigate the current environment. In response to tariffs and fears about a slowing U.S. economy, McDonald shared plans to leverage the company’s strong financial position and competitive advantages to play offense, while continuing to invest in growth opportunities in front of them. To offset the effect of tariffs and buying decisions by consumers, the company is planning to take “strategic price increases, looking item by item across its product range. “It will be price inc
Lifestyle
Jackman, Reynolds snap up Australian SailGP team
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have purchased the Australian SailGP team, The BONDS Flying Roos, for A$76 million. This isn’t Reynold’s first venture into the sporting world, purchasing Welsh soccer team Wrexham for US$2.5 million back when it was in the fifth tier of the English game with fellow actor Rob McElhenney in 2021. The duo was also part of a group of investors who acquired a €200 million stake in the French Formula 1 team Alpine in 2023. He has now ventured into Australian sports with Jackman by his side. The new co-owners said they were excited to set sail together on this new adventure alongside CEO and Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby in leading the freshly rebranded team. “Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country, as well as being an avid fan of sailing,” Reynolds and Jackman said. “He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride.” Sail GP is a global sailing league where teams race hydrofoils that reach speeds exceeding 100km/h in teams of 12. Slingsby has led the team for four seasons and led them to three victories. The BONDS Flying Roos are also set to debut their rebranded F50 catamaran at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix, rac
Lifestyle
Political football: Row threatens Tasmanian Devils
Almost 90 years after the Tasmanian Tiger was last seen, the Tasmanian Devil also faces extinction but in a different sense and for a different reason. The future of the football team named after the Australian island state’s carnivorous marsupial is in doubt because of the Tasmanian Government's potential fall. A no-confidence motion has been tabled against the minority government, threatening plans for a A$1 billion (US$649 million) stadium in the state capital of Hobart that would be home to the Australian Football League’s (AFL) proposed 19th franchise, the Tasmanian Devils. Premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose Liberal Party commands just 14 of the 35 seats in the lower House of Assembly, has threatened to call an election if the opposition Labor Party motion (10 seats) is successful in the Tasmanian Parliament. “This will be an election that Tasmanians don’t want and Tasmania cannot afford,” Rockliff told a news conference on Thursday. This would be the second poll in 15 months for the tiny state of 575,000 people, which is struggling with budget deficits and rising debt and would fund most of the stadium. Although both major parties are in favour of the stadium, to form a government Labor needs the support of the