Percentage of urban traffic congestion that is caused by the daily struggle to find parking, according to a study by IBM and Streetline Inc.: 30
Average time drivers have spent in pursuit of a coveted spot: 20 minutes
In a yearlong study, vehicle emissions resulting from drivers looking for parking in a 15-block district in Los Angeles: 730 tons of carbon dioxide
Source: IBM.
Percentage of organizations that indicated poor frontline leadership resulted in turnover of leaders themselves or their team members, according to a survey conducted by Development Dimensions International (DDI) in conjunction with HR.com and the Institute for Human Resources: 59
Percentage of respondents who reported a loss of productivity: 65
Percentage who reported loss of team member engagement: 69
Source: DDI.
Percentage of Americans who said they have made purchases they can't afford in order to be perceived as having a certain lifestyle, according to a Country Financial Security Index survey: 10
Percentage of 18- to 29-year-olds who stretch their paychecks because they feel pressure to keep up appearances: 20
Source: Country Financial.
Year that San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge opened and was hailed as a technological marvel, as it continues to be, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1937
Estimated number of other bridges in the U.S., forming a vital part of the nation's highway system: 604,000
Of these, percentage that are considered deficient and obsolete to cope with modern traffic: 25
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Percentage of all households with children under the age of 18 that include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau: 40
In 1960, percentage of mothers who were either the sole or primary source of income for the family: 11
Source: Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends.
Percentage of middle-class Americans who have been outside the middle class in their own lifetime, according to a poll by The Allstate Corporation and National Journal: 51
Percentage of Americans who believe that being middle class today means keeping up with expenses and holding a steady job while not falling behind or taking on too much debt: 54
Source: Allstate Insurance Co.
Percentage of singles who would not date someone with considerable credit card debt (more than $5,000), according to a survey by Match.com: 65
Percentage of singles who would not date a virgin (33 percent of men and 51 percent of women): 42
Percentage of women who are not likely to date someone shorter than themselves: 71
Source: Match.com.
Percentage of consumers who consider people who use coupons to be "savvy" vs. "cheap": 59 percent vs. 9 percent
Percentage who would consider using a coupon on a date and wouldn't try to hide it: 71
Source: RetailMeNot.com.
Percentage of newlyweds who say the bride and groom must be the first to post a picture of their wedding to a social media site, according to a survey by David's Bridal: 52
Percentage of brides who will update their Facebook status to "married" or update their new name within a day of walking down the aisle: 59
Source: David's Bridal Inc.
Percentage of parents who are concerned that children are suffering negative health consequences from spending too much time on electronic devices instead of physical activities, according to a Mason-Dixon survey conducted on behalf of the Water Quality and Health Council: 93
Percentage who said electronics, such as video games, smartphones and tablets, interfere with traditional family activities: 86
Source: Mason-Dixon Polling.
Idle Thought
"Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best. Genius must always have lapses proportionate to its triumphs." -- Max Beerbohm
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre(at)bwr.eastlink.ca.)