Ben Ayers

3 weeks ago | outsideonline.com | Ben Ayers |Frederick Dreier

Mount Everest holds a special aura for hardcore climbers and casual fans of the sport alike. Every year, the world's highest peak attracts several hundred climbers who attempt to reach the top. But not everyone is familiar with the dynamics on the mountain, the guiding industry, or even the route to the top. Below, we answer a handful of familiar questions that we often receive from readers (and also Outside editors) about Mount Everest. Do you have a question about Mount Everest?

Aug 7, 2024 | blog.nationwidefinancial.com | Mark C. Hackett |Ben Ayers

Key takeaways:Economic activity was downshifted by mid-year, with elevated interest rates and inflation fatigue weighing on consumer and business spending behavior. The U.S. economy should post more modest growth in the second half of 2024 as interest rate and inflation headwinds build for consumers. The less frothy economic data provide more reason for the Federal Reserve to start lowering interest rates in the second half of 2024.

Jun 26, 2024 | outsideonline.com | Ben Ayers

The spring climbing season on Mount Everest came to an official close in late May when monsoons once again crept up the Khumbu Valley and shrouded the world’s highest peak in clouds. The world’s highest peak saw both ambitious climbers breaking new records and images of conga lines clogging the summit ridge this year. But this season’s most notable statistic may be the dramatic downturn in fatalities from the record high in 2023.

May 30, 2024 | outsideonline.com | Ben Ayers

At 6 A.M. on May 21, Nepali climbing guide Vinayak Jaya Malla gazed from the summit of Mount Everest for the fourth time in his life. The sun was cresting the horizon, its rays painting the peak’s eastern face in shades of orange and pink. Vinayak, who holds a certificate from the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association, marveled at the unusually high temperatures atop the mountain—it was so warm that he removed his gloves to snap photos of his client, a climber from Peru.

May 28, 2024 | blog.nationwidefinancial.com | Mark C. Hackett |Ben Ayers

Key takeaways:Solid economic activity in Q1 prompted a change in our forecast. We no longer project a recession in 2024 and hiring and consumer spending is expected to remain resilient for some time. Job gains were weaker in April, and hiring was concentrated in a few industries, suggesting broadly slower worker demand. Services inflation surged in the first quarter, and input costs for the services sector spiked in April, indicating continued price pressures in the coming months.