Percentage rise in global recorded music revenues in 2012 (boosted by downloads, subscriptions and other channels), according to the IFPI Digital Music Report 2013: 0.3
Estimated percentage growth in digital revenues (to $5.6 billion in 2012 and now accounting for 34 percent of global industry revenues): 9
Percentage increase in download sales in 2012, representing 70 percent of overall digital music revenues: 12
Source: IFPI Digital Music Report.
Percentage of U.K. and U.S. consumers who believe they often know more about the products and services they are inquiring about than the call center agent dealing with their call, according to research from BT Group and Avaya: 70
Percentage of people who thought agents struggled to answer their questions: 80
Percentage who believed they'd been put on hold because agents didn't know what to say: 85
Source: BT Group.
During spring break, number of alcoholic drinks the average male reportedly drinks per day, according to research by CWR Partners: 18
Number of alcoholic drinks per day the average female drinks: 10
Estimated percentage of spring breakers who drank until they got sick or passed out at least once: 50
Source: CWR Partners.
Percentage of consumers who say they have compared repair job quotes between the auto dealership and an independent repair shop, according to a survey conducted by AutoMD.com: 78
Percentage of those consumers who said the results show that independent repair shop quotes are more affordable: 87
Source: AutoMD.com.
Average amount of sleep experienced by both self-described exercisers and self-described non-exercisers, according to the results of the National Sleep Foundation's 2013 Sleep in America poll: 6 hours and 51 minutes
Percentage of vigorous exercisers who reported getting a good night's sleep: 67
Percentage of moderate exercisers: 58 percent
Percentage of light exercisers: 56 percent
Percentage of non-exercisers: 39 percent
Source: National Sleep Foundation.
Percentage of all children afflicted with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, the most common neuro-developmental disorder of childhood, affecting three times as many boys as girls, according to research by William Barbaresi of Boston Children's Hospital: 7
Percentage of the ADHD children contacted as adults who were free of psychiatric disorders: 37
Percentage of the children with ADHD who still had ADHD as adults (ascertained through structured neuropsychiatric interviews): 29
Source: Boston Children's Hospital.
Percentage of respondents globally who say that their mobile devices have helped them to "fit in" rather than stand out, according to findings of a global research study by McCann Worldgroup: 74
Percentage more likely respondents say they are to be outgoing on their mobile devices than face to face: 50
Source: McCann Worldgroup.
Average one-way daily commute for workers across the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau's annual American Community Survey: 25.5 minutes
Percentage of U.S. workers who have commutes of 60 minutes or longer: 8.1
Ranks of New York state, Maryland and New Jersey on the list of states that show the highest rate of long commutes: 1, 2, 3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
When it comes to selecting a spring vacation destination, percentage of consumers who said affordability is the most important factor, according to the RetailMeNot Shoppers Trend Report: 85
Ranks of security or safety, availability of activities such as water sports or hiking, whether the destination is located in the U.S., and family friendly on the list of important considerations when selecting a spring vacation: 2, 3, 4, 5
Source: RetailMeNot.com.
Percentage of people who said they'd be willing to set wellness goals if it did not change their day-to-day life, according to findings from the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters survey: 80
Percentage of respondents who think it is important to get the proper amounts of vitamins and nutrients each day: 95
Percentage of people who said a healthy diet is important for good health: 94
Percentage who cited regular exercise: 90
Source: GMCR Wellness Collection.
Idle Thought
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." -- Lao Tzu
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)