As of Dec. 31, 2013, number of convenience stores in the United States, according to figures released by the National Association of Convenience Stores: 151,282
Of all retail outlets in the U.S., percentage that is accounted for by convenience stores: 34.3
Source: National Association of Convenience Stores.
Percentage of American adults who claim to have used an online dating site, according to a survey by YouGov: 21
Of those, percentage of adults aged 35 to 54 who have gone on dates with someone they met online: 76
Percentage of the younger users, aged 18 to 34, who have gone on dates with someone they met online: 47
Source: YouGov.
Number of Americans who die every day from opioid prescription painkillers -- more deaths than heroin and cocaine overdoses combined -- according to the National Safety Council: 45
Percentage of the world's population living in the U.S.: 4.6
Percentage of the world's opioids that are consumed here: 80
Source: National Safety Council.
Percentage of Americans who think baseball players are paid more than they are worth, according to a survey by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute: 67
Source: Saint Leo University Polling Institute.
Percentage of children age 6 to 17 who have at least one electronic device on in their bedroom while they are sleeping, according to findings from the National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America 2014 poll: 72
On average, number of hours of sleep per night that teens who leave devices on are estimated to get on school nights: 7.2 hours
On average, number of hours of sleep per night that teens who never leave devices on are estimated to get: 7.7 hours
Source: National Sleep Foundation.
Percentage of shoppers who said they would lend money to a friend, according to a CreditDonkey.com survey: 66
Percentage who said they would lend money to a family member: 81
Source: CreditDonkey.com.
Percentage of people who worry that they will not be able to retire at the time and in the style they hoped for: 78
Percentage who would consider developing a budget: 64
Percentage who would be open to setting a specific financial goal for the future: 52
Percentage who would be likely to hire a financial adviser: 16
Source: RetailMeNot.com.
Despite increased fees and stricter size restrictions, percentage of travelers who said they still prefer to check their luggage, according to findings from surveys conducted by The GO Group LLC: 32
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, amount of money that passenger airlines collected in baggage fees in 2013, 1.6 percent of total operating revenue: $797 million
Source: GO Airport Express.
Percentage of American adults online who use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn, according to Pew Research: 66
Percentage who say that connecting with old friends they've lost touch with is a major reason behind their use of these technologies: 50
Source: Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends.
Percentage of workers age 50 and over who change jobs or retire who elect to leave the money from their defined contribution account, such as a 401(k), in the prior employer's plan, according to EBRI's analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Study: 27.4
Percentage who are receiving the benefits now: 26.1
Percentage who roll it over into an IRA: 24.9
Source: EBRI.
Idle Thought
"It's best to give while your hand is still warm." -- Philip Roth, novelist
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)