Year the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, authorizing Congress to levy taxes on income, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1903
In 2015, amount paid by individuals in federal income tax: $1.9 trillion
Amount paid in state and local income taxes: $348 billion
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Percentage of workers who said they are stressed at work on a day-to-day basis, according to a survey by staffing firm Accountemps: 52
Percentage of CFOs who acknowledged their teams are stressed: 54
Ranks of heavy workloads and looming deadlines (33 percent), attaining work-life balance (22 percent) and unrealistic expectations of managers (22 percent) on the list of the top worries cited by employees: 1, 2 (tie)
Source: Accountemps.
Aside from finding a new job, percentage of workers who said this year's New Year's resolution is to save more of my pay, up from 38 percent last year, according to a new CareerBuilder survey: 49
Percentage who resolve to be less stressed, up from 28 percent last year: 38
Percentage who aim to get a raise or promotion, up from 26 percent last year: 30
Source: CareerBuilder.com.
Percentage of adults ages 36 to 51 (Generation X) who say that if they could sign a contract today guaranteeing that they live to see their 100th birthday, they would, according to a study conducted by Ipsos on behalf of MDVIP: 60
Percentage of those who say that they would sign regardless of their physical or mental condition: 11
Percentage who say that they would only do so if they were guaranteed to be in good mental/brain health: 31
Percentage who would only sign if they were guaranteed to be in good physical health: 10
Source: MDVIP.
The average cost of a wedding in 2016, an all-time high, according the results of The Knot's 2016 Real Weddings Study of U.S. brides and grooms married that year: $35,329
On average, percentage of the overall wedding budget that is paid for by the bride's parents: 44
Percentage that is paid by the bride and groom: 42
Percentage paid by the groom's parents: 13
Source: The Knot.
Ranks of saving money, eating healthy and wasting less food on the list of the top three reasons for meal planning, according to a national survey by Peapod and ORC: 1, 2, 3
Source: Peapod.
Percentage of U.S. travelers surveyed who cited a trip within the U.S. as their primary vacation destination for 2017, according to The Travelzoo survey: 60
While affordability was an influence on travel plans, percentage who said they would pay more for their vacation if it meant increased security: 72
Percentage of travelers who agreed that the global economy and stronger dollar make travel to Europe and other destinations outside the U.S. more desirable in 2017: 50
Source: Travelzoo.
Percentage of small businesses that do not have a business succession plan in place, according to a Nationwide survey: 60
Percentage of business owners who simply believe it is not necessary: 47
Percentage of business owners who neglect succession planning because they don't want to give up their life's work: 14
Source: Nationwide.
Percentage of Americans who said they would likely let their kids play a dangerous sport like football, according to a survey by Ipsos conducted following the 2017 Super Bowl: 73
Of those who wouldn't let kid play football, percentage who sited the risk of physical injuries: 69
Percentage who cites the risk of brain injuries: 75
Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.
Idle Thought
"Reading is not just an escape. It is access to a better way of life." -- Karin Slaughter, novelist
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)