California in 2024 claimed the world’s fourth-largest economy, by some curious math. Whether the state remains at this high, bragging-rights perch is very much in doubt. California businesses produced $4.1 trillion worth of goods and services in 2024, according to the latest gross domestic product estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP is […]
California in 2024 claimed the world’s fourth-largest economy, by some curious math.
Whether the state remains at this high, bragging-rights perch is very much in doubt.
California businesses produced $4.1 trillion worth of goods and services in 2024, according to the latest gross domestic product estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. GDP is a broad measurement of economic production and is useful for comparisons of business heft.
When California’s economy is put on a global scale, only three nations were more productive last year, according to GDP stats from biannual reports from the International Monetary Fund.
The U.S. is easily No. 1 with $29 trillion, and it would still be tops without California. Next is China at $18.8 trillion. And there’s Germany at $4.66 trillion.
The “big news” is that California managed to bump up from its long-standing No. 5 ranking on this global totem pole by edging past Japan, which produced $4.03 trillion in GDP last year.
California is an economic powerhouse because its 18-million-people-strong workforce isn’t just the nation’s largest, it produces highly valued products. For all the talk of California’s “anti-business” policies, no state comes close to the Golden State in business output.
Texas is the nation’s No. 2 in GDP at $2.7 trillion. My trusty spreadsheet, using California’s bragging-rights calculations, found Texas ranks as the world’s No. 8 economy, on par with Italy.
New York’s $2.3 trillion GDP is No. 9 globally. That’s Canada’s ballpark. Florida, at $1.7 trillion, is No. 16, or roughly the size of Indonesia. And Illinois, at $1.1 trillion, is No. 19, comparable with Saudi Arabia.
Think about the challenges California’s lofty global ranking economy faces.
Start with the strength of the U.S. dollar. Its rise has been a relative economic norm for over a decade.
These economic rankings are made possible by converting the worldwide business output into its top currency, the American one. A strong U.S. dollar makes domestic output pricier to our global trading partners. It also devalues foreign production.
So ponder how currency gyrations affected the calculations of Japanese growth.
Throughout 2024, the Japanese yen lost 11% of its value compared with the U.S. dollar. That’s a key reason why Japan’s GDP growth was 2.9% for the year in yen, but only 0.1% in dollars.
That story is different today. In 2025’s first four months, the two currencies flip-flopped. The yen has appreciated 10% against the dollar as currency traders weigh trade wars started by the Trump administration and what they will do to the world’s business production.
It’s possible that California would lose the No. 4 spot on the GDP scorecard if output were priced at today’s currency rates.
Then there’s India, with an economic competition I’ve previously mentioned when writing about California’s GDP rank.
India is the world’s most populous nation with 1.46 billion people. California has “only” 40 million. India is blooming into one of the world’s economic superpowers that will surely surpass California’s output some year soon.
India’s $3.91 trillion GDP in 2024, just behind Japan. The IMF projects then Indian economy to grow 6.2% in U.S. dollars in 2025. Assuming California’s GDP can grow at the estimated 1.8% U.S. rate, the Indian economy could surpass the Golden State this year.
Of course, the immense wildcard in any chat about the world’s economy today is the business turmoil created by the Trump administration. Its ever-changing attempts to right what it perceives as the world’s unfair trading practices makes any business forecast a raw guestimate, at best.
We see new U.S. tariffs and ensuing retaliation by the targeted nations – plus talk of ripping up existing trade deals. Which national economies will win or lose these trade wars – not to mention California’s globally focused business climate? Who ends up where on the 2025 global GDP ladder?
It’s a big unknown.
California’s No. 4 global ranking is a fun fact, but it can’t hide a decidedly cooling economy.
Look at the state’s GDP growth against its domestic competition.
Last year, California’s business output grew 6% using the same GDP math. That was ninth-best among the states and topped the 5.3% national expansion.
However, the year’s end was worrisome.
GDP growth in California cooled to a 4% annual rate in the fourth quarter. A key factor is that the state’s information industries – from Silicon Valley to Hollywood – faced steep challenges.
That end-of-the-year expansion ranked No. 40 among the states and trailed the 4.8% U.S. pace.
So, California’s economic growth cooled by 33% when comparing all of 2024 to its finish. The nation’s growth shrank only 9%. And only four states slowed more than the Golden State.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com
Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console! We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements. Once you’ve scrolled down to catch up […]
Action stations, folks, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here, and we’ve got our hands on the new console!
We’ve also tested the latest Surface Pro tablet, found out how Spotify Wrapped 2024 got it so wrong, and tuned in to Summer Game Fest 2025 for some major announcements.
Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the […]
Golf World in Turmoil as New PGA Tour Innovation Sparks Controversy Among Fans
In a shocking turn of events, the PGA Tour has introduced a groundbreaking innovation at the Canadian Open, leaving golf fans worldwide divided. The new technology, a drone shot tracer that changes color based on the probability of the ball hitting the fairway, has sparked a heated debate among enthusiasts.
While some fans have welcomed the change as a step towards modernization and innovation, others have criticized it, arguing that it takes away the anticipation and uncertainty that makes watching golf exciting. One fan expressed, “It is so bad, I don’t need a robot to tell me where it thinks the ball will land, I can wait 2 seconds to find out myself.”
Speculations are rife that the PGA Tour’s new technology might have been inspired by LIV Golf, a rival league that has been attracting top players away from the traditional tour. With big names like Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson having joined LIV Golf in recent years, the competition between the two leagues is at an all-time high.
Phil Mickelson, a vocal critic of the PGA Tour, highlighted the advantages of LIV Golf, emphasizing the need for more global and competitive events that bring together the best players in the world. Mickelson pointed out that the traditional model of the PGA Tour restricted players from competing against each other frequently and internationally, a limitation that LIV Golf has successfully addressed.
As the golfing world grapples with these significant changes and innovations, one thing is clear – the landscape of professional golf is evolving rapidly, with leagues like LIV Golf pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sport. The PGA Tour, faced with increasing competition and fan expectations, must continue to adapt and innovate to stay relevant in this dynamic environment.
Inside the surprising shift in who’s turning to Bioniq’s personalized supplements (and what they’re really after) With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge. A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users […]
With personalization becoming the new standard in both the fitness and wellness industry, it’s not just Gen Z leading the charge.
A new analysis from Cristiano Ronaldo-backed personalized supplement brand Bioniq, based on data from more than 250,000 users across the U.S. and the GCC, reveals that older adults are just as engaged in health optimization as younger consumers.
The supplement brand, now valued at $82 million, analyzed more than six million biochemical data points using its proprietary AI algorithm, which integrates health quiz responses with blood test results. The findings offer insight into how consumers across generations and the two regions are redefining their wellness priorities.
Here are the most striking trends:
While Gen Z is certainly invested in all things wellness and better-for-you foods, it’s adults aged 35 to 60 who are driving the deepest engagement. Bioniq’s data shows the most active users are men aged 35–45 and women 45–60, peaking at 50–55, representing a clear signal that midlife is when long-term health, energy, and disease prevention become top priorities.
In the United States, 40% of quiz-takers were classified as obese, with men more likely to be overweight and less likely to fall within a healthy weight range compared to women. In contrast, only 20% of users in the GCC were categorized as obese, and nearly half of GCC women were classified as having a healthy weight.
Bioniq’s data shows that healthy-weight and overweight individuals are more likely to remain engaged with the program, while obese users exhibit lower retention. Although an active lifestyle is linked to stronger long-term participation, the findings suggest that users classified as obese may disengage if they don’t see immediate results. Bioniq notes this underscores the need for stronger education and motivational support to sustain engagement in this group.
Bioniq found that in the U.S., individuals focused on health and nutrient deficiencies tended to be older, particularly in the 44–55 age group. In contrast, health-conscious users in the GCC skewed younger, with the largest segment falling between ages 30 and 45.
Among women aged 18–35, 30% identified iron deficiency as a key concern. Encouragingly, 94% of Bioniq Pro members in this group optimized their ferritin levels within six months — though interest in iron levels tends to decline with age, according to the personalized supplement company.
Is cognitive health becoming more important than chasing six-pack abs? The data suggests so. Nearly half of all Bioniq users ranked memory and focus as their top wellness goals, with younger users especially prioritizing brain function, sleep quality and anxiety management.
Half of all men, regardless of age, listed muscle strength as a top health priority, with younger men focused on muscle mass, cognitive performance, and libido support. Older men, by contrast, are increasingly concerned with anti-aging, heart health, and bone strength.
For women, beauty and aging were the dominant themes. Younger users prioritized skin, hair, and nail health, while older women shifted their focus to memory and skin health. Across both genders, the desire to age well grows stronger with time.
“At Bioniq, we’ve observed a significant transformation in our audience over the years,” Bioniq founder and CEO Vadim Fedotov said. “While we initially catered to health enthusiasts and athletes, we’re now seeing a growing demand from an older demographic seeking personalized solutions for healthy aging and longevity. Additionally, the rise in female customers highlights the increasing awareness and demand for tailored health optimization. This evolution reinforces our goal to provide science-backed, data-driven supplementation for every stage of life.”
This spring, Bioniq announced a partnership with social wellness club Remedy Place to launch Meridian, a personalized health assessment program available to club members. As a perk of the collaboration, Remedy Place members also receive personalized, co-branded Bioniq x Remedy Place canisters to store their supplements.
SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show. The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s […]
SANTA CLARA — Nvidia is eyeing a major expansion of an office site the company owns next to its headquarters, documents on file with Santa Clara city planners show.
The tech company has filed a proposal to build a new office building at 2400 Condensa St., which is west of, and directly next to, Nvidia’s complex on San Tomas Expressway, documents show.
“To support our growth as we push the boundaries of accelerated computing, we have submitted a permit application to expand our headquarters with additional offices, lab space, and parking,” an Nvidia spokesperson stated in comments emailed to this news organization.
Nvidia’s development plans envision the demolition of an office and research building that Nvidia already owns and occupies. The existing office building totals 215,500 square feet, according to commercial real estate database Property Shark.
That building is on a parcel that is roughly 11 acres, Property Shark estimates show.
Nvidia intends to replace the existing structure with a modern office building that is expected to total 324,000 square feet, according to Santa Clara planning files.
The development would also include a parking structure with about 2,900 vehicle spaces and 36 surface parking spaces, city documents show.
“We hope to start work on this third phase of our long-standing development agreement with the city in the fall,” the Nvidia spokesperson stated in the email.
Santa Clara-based Nvidia has embarked on a remarkable quest to widen its footholds in the South Bay, primarily through property purchases next to and near its headquarters. It has also pursued leasing deals in locations that include an office building in San Jose.
Originally Published:
Concerns about privacy are stopping some people from being willing to share wearable tracker data with their doctor. (Dragon Images/Shutterstock) In a nutshell Although 94% of fitness tracker users say they’re willing to share their data with healthcare providers, only 43% have actually done so. Privacy concerns, especially among people with chronic health conditions, are […]
Concerns about privacy are stopping some people from being willing to share wearable tracker data with their doctor. (Dragon Images/Shutterstock)
ADELAIDE, Australia — Millions of Americans strap on Apple Watches, Fitbits, and other fitness trackers every day, diligently monitoring their steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. These devices generate a treasure trove of health data that could revolutionize how doctors treat patients, if only people would actually share it.
A new study from the University of South Australia reveals that while 94% of fitness tracker users say they’re willing to share their device data with healthcare providers, less than half have ever actually done so. Only 43% have directly shared their tracker information during medical appointments, despite the potential for this data to improve their care.
Published in the journal Healthcare, the research surveyed 447 current and former wearable activity tracker users across multiple countries to understand why there’s such a massive gap between good intentions and real-world behavior regarding health data sharing.
These numbers expose both an enormous opportunity and a fundamental problem in modern healthcare. Patients are increasingly taking charge of their own health monitoring through consumer devices, but this wealth of objective data isn’t making it into doctors’ offices where it could actually make a difference.
Traditional healthcare relies heavily on patients’ self-reported behaviors, such as how much they exercise, how well they sleep, and whether they’re taking their medications. But people are notoriously bad at accurately remembering and reporting these details. Fitness trackers, on the other hand, provide continuous, objective measurements that could give doctors a much clearer picture of their patients’ daily health behaviors.
The study found that people with chronic health conditions were more likely to have discussed or shared their tracker data with healthcare providers. Those patients typically have more frequent medical appointments and greater motivation to actively manage their health.
However, these same patients were also more likely to express concerns about sharing their data, creating a paradox where the people who could benefit most from data sharing are also the most worried about it.
Privacy emerged as the top concern among the 26% of participants who had reservations about sharing their tracker data. Only 10% of all participants cited privacy as a specific worry, but it was by far the most common concern mentioned.
Australian participants were significantly less likely to have shared their data with healthcare providers compared to Americans, while U.S. participants reported fewer privacy concerns overall. This suggests cultural attitudes toward health data sharing vary considerably, even among developed nations with similar healthcare systems.
People between 35 and 44 were more likely to have shared their tracker data than younger adults aged 18 to 24, while those aged 45 to 54 expressed the most concerns about data sharing. This pattern suggests that middle-aged adults may see the most immediate value in sharing health data, while older adults remain more cautious.
Researchers conducted their survey between February and May 2023, recruiting participants through Amazon Mechanical Turk and Facebook. They included adults who had used a fitness tracker within the past three years for at least one month, excluding those who only used smartphone apps without an actual wearable device.
The final sample was predominantly young (84% under 45), female (60%), and well-educated (75% had higher education qualifications). Most participants came from the United States (60%) or Australia (27%), with the remainder from 31 other countries.
Participants answered questions about whether they’d discussed or shared their tracker data with healthcare providers, their willingness to do so, and any concerns they had about such sharing. The survey also collected information about participants’ demographics, health status, and tracker usage patterns.
Most participants used popular brands like Apple (45%), Fitbit (20%), and Garmin (20%). About 80% were current users, while 20% had stopped using their devices. Daily usage was common, with 66% using their trackers every day.
Most people reported that their fitness trackers actually helped them become more active. About 66% said they had either constantly increased their activity or increased and maintained higher activity levels since using their devices.
When participants did share data with healthcare providers, they most commonly did so through proprietary apps, verbally during appointments, or via direct messaging. The contexts usually involved tracking health metrics, setting goals, or discussing specific health concerns.
Many healthcare systems simply aren’t equipped to handle patient-generated data from consumer devices. Current fitness trackers often don’t meet healthcare systems’ stringent privacy and security requirements, and many doctors lack training on how to interpret and use this information effectively.
The researchers noted that developing secure data management solutions for wearable devices, including encryption or de-identification features, could help address privacy concerns and enable safer use of this data during clinical encounters.
The sheer volume of health data being generated but not utilized is overwhelming. The global wearable activity tracker market is valued at approximately $63 billion and projected to reach $352 billion by 2033. With roughly 20% of Australian adults and 39% of U.S. adults owning fitness trackers, there’s an enormous amount of objective health data being collected every day.
Unlike traditional medical data, which is collected sporadically during doctor visits, fitness trackers provide continuous monitoring. This real-time data could help doctors spot trends, adjust treatments, and provide more personalized care recommendations.
In order to implement tracker data effectively, we need to develop more secure data-sharing platforms, train healthcare providers on how to use tracker data effectively, and create clearer guidelines for when and how this data should be incorporated into clinical decision-making.
Patients are ready and willing to share their fitness tracker data with doctors, but the healthcare system isn’t ready to receive it. Bridging this gap could unlock significant improvements in how we monitor and manage health, but it will require investment in technology, training, and privacy protections to make it work.
Researchers conducted an international online survey from February to May 2023, recruiting participants through Amazon Mechanical Turk and Facebook. They included 447 adults aged 18 and older who had used a wearable activity tracker for at least one month within the past three years. Participants were excluded if they only used smartphone apps without physical devices or if their trackers didn’t measure physical activity. The survey asked about demographics, tracker usage patterns, experiences sharing data with healthcare providers, and willingness or concerns about data sharing. Statistical analysis used multivariate logistic regression to examine relationships between participant characteristics and data-sharing attitudes.
Of 447 participants, 94% expressed willingness to share tracker data with healthcare providers, but only 47% had ever discussed their data with providers and 43% had directly shared it. About 26% had concerns about sharing, with privacy being the most common worry (cited by 10% of participants). People with chronic health conditions were more likely to both share data and express concerns. Geographic differences emerged, with Australian participants less likely to share data and U.S. participants reporting fewer privacy concerns. The sample was predominantly young (84% under 45), female (60%), well-educated (75% higher education), and from the U.S. (60%) or Australia (27%).
Several limitations affected this study including potential self-selection bias since people interested in the topic may have been more likely to participate. The sample was not representative of the general population, being skewed toward younger, more educated, and tech-savvy individuals primarily from the U.S. and Australia. The survey design may have introduced recall bias, particularly among former tracker users who might not accurately remember past clinical encounters. Additionally, the model examining participant concerns had a low events-per-variable ratio, making those estimates less stable and requiring cautious interpretation.
The research received no external funding. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics committee. The authors declared no conflicts of interest. Data from the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
This study was published in the journal Healthcare, volume 13, issue 11, article number 1215, on May 22, 2025. The full citation is: Szeto, K.; Maher, C.; Curtis, R.G.; Singh, B.; Cain, T.; Beckett, D.; Ferguson, T. “User Experiences and Attitudes Toward Sharing Wearable Activity Tracker Data with Healthcare Providers: A Cross-Sectional Study.” The research was conducted by the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity at the University of South Australia.
Ochy has formed a strategic alliance with England Athletics to integrate its AI-driven gait analysis technology into the training resources available to the organization’s extensive network of runners and coaches. This partnership marks a significant advancement in making professional biomechanical assessments accessible to athletes at all skill levels. Ochy’s AI-driven gait analysis platform utilizes smartphone […]
Ochy’s AI-driven gait analysis platform utilizes smartphone video capture to process and gain insights from key running metrics, including foot strike patterns, joint alignment, and upper body mechanics. The system delivers comprehensive feedback and customized training recommendations within moments.
By eliminating the need for expensive lab equipment or specialist consultations, Ochy democratizes access to movement analysis that was previously restricted to elite athletes. England Athletics will promote this resource to its 147,000 registered members across 1,750 affiliated clubs.
Image Credit: Ochy x England Athletics
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
This is poetry in motion.
Appling County football to forfeit all 10 wins from 2024
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Jon Jones answers UFC retirement speculation as fans accuse champion of 'holding the belt …
BYU women's basketball guard injures ACL twice
2025 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Women’s College World Series bracket, schedule set
Xavier Legette taught Marty Smith his signature celly 
Today in the MHSAA
IU basketball recruiting
NCDC Commitment Profiles: Cyclones’ Martins Moving On to Saint Anselm College • USPHL
Why IHOP Rode With Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Amazon NASCAR Debut
