Estimated number of affluent households in the United States, representing the wealthiest 10 percent of all U.S. households based on net worth, as determined by the Federal Reserve Board: 11.4 million
Average annual income of these households: $267,000
Average net worth: $3.1 million
Average investable assets: $1.8 million
Average primary residence value: $1.2 million
Source: American Affluence Center.
Percentage of young men (ages 18 to 34) who say that having a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their lives, a drop of six points since 1997, according to the Pew Research Center: 29
Percentage of young women who say the same, a rise of 9 points since 1997: 37
Source: Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends.
Percentage of global employees in 26 countries who say they work in a job that requires them to interact with people from other countries, according to a poll conducted by Ipsos Global Public on behalf of Reuters News: 27
Percentage of those who say the language used most often in those interactions is English: 67
Source: Ipsos Global Public Affairs.
Percentage of all fatal and serious car crashes that are caused by male drivers, according to the 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com study "Women Are Bad Drivers -- Fact Or Fiction?": 80
Percentage less likely that women are than men to cause auto accidents: 27
Source: 4AutoInsuranceQuote.com.
Percentage increase in overall wine consumption in the U.S., marking the 18th year of volume increases, according to the Beverage Information Group's Handbook Advance 2012: 2.5
Source: Beverage Information Group.
Percentage of today's younger renting generation (ages 18 to 34) who responded that they intend to buy a home, according to a Home Buyer Poll by TD Bank: 84
Percentage of consumers who say homeownership is a vital component to defining the American Dream, and with it they associate feelings of excitement or pride as part of their first-time home-buying process: 59
Source: TD Bank.
Percentage of respondents planning to travel this summer who will use credit card rewards to cover some of their summer vacation expenses, up from 42 percent in 2011, according to Capital One: 50
Percentage who were even willing to trade in as much as $200 worth of rewards for an extra vacation day if it were an option: 19
Ranks of airfare (58 percent), hotels (42 percent) and gas (18 percent) on the list of the most popular redemption options: 1, 2, 3
Source: Bankrate.com.
Percentage of U.S. adults who have dined at a fast food restaurant chain in the past month, according to the results of a Harris Poll: 63
Percentage who have dined at a local casual dining establishment: 53
Percentage who have eaten out at a casual dining restaurant chain: 50
Source: Harris Interactive.
Over a three- to four-year period, average percentage reductions in energy consumption targeted by businesses, according to a survey from the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions: 25
Percentage of companies that have set goals regarding electricity usage and energy management practices, with 66 percent identifying cost-cutting as their primary motivation: 90
Percentage of businesses that view reducing electricity costs as essential to staying financially competitive, a 9 percent jump from 2011: 85
Source: Deloitte.
Idle Thought
"Mistakes are part of the dues that one pays for a full life." -- Sophia Loren, actress
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)