Percentage of divorcees who say that finances played at least "somewhat" of a role in their divorces (20 percent believe it played a "big" role), according to a survey by Experian: 59

Percentage who say their spouse's credit score was a source of stress in the marriage: 36

Source: Experian Marketing Services.

Month that community activist and civil rights icon Rosa Parks was born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: February 1913

When she was arrested in 1955, number of years, on average, that black children attended school: 7

Now, percentage of African-American adults who have at least a high school diploma: 85

Estimated number who are enrolled in college as graduate or undergraduate students: 3.4 million

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage of Americans who admit they're more likely to wash their hands after seeing a sign that requires employees to wash before returning to work, according to the Healthy Hand Washing Survey conducted by Bradley Corp.: 50

Percentage who say the presence of other people causes them to either make sure they wash their hands or wash longer or more thoroughly: 40

Source: Bradley Corp.

When asked who's responsible for keeping spirits high on the job, percentage of North American workers who said it was their responsibility alone, according to a study from Robert Half and Happiness Works: 25

Percentage who said it was all in their company's hands: 5

Percentage of respondents who cited a combination of the two: 70

Source: Robert Half Management Resources.

Over the last 12 months ending November 2016, number of miles driven by Americans, according to research by Convergex: 3.215 billion

Number of equivalent round trips to/from the sun this would equal: 17

Source: Convergex.

Approximate number of Americans who have concealed a bank or credit card account from their live-in spouse, partner or significant other, according to a CreditCards.com survey: 12 million

Percentage of older baby boomers, those ages 63 to 71, who have had a secret account: 11

Percentage of millennials who have had a secret account: 3

Source: Creditcards.com.

Average amount that U.S. consumers spent this Valentine's Day, down from last year's record high $146.84, according to an annual Valentine's Day survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics: $136.57

Amount spent on flowers: $2 billion

Amount spent on an evening out: $3.8 billion

Amount spent on jewelry: $4.3 billion

Source: NRF.

Despite 44 percent of parents reporting improvements in school cafeteria meals within the last five years, percentage of parents who opt to pack a lunch, according to a Nielsen survey: 51

Percentage of consumers who want to set good examples for their families by eating healthier: 41

Regardless of price, percentage of consumers who are willing to pay more if it equals a healthier choice: 55

Source: Nielsen Insights.

Percentage of consumers who report they like to work out with music, according to research commissioned by Jabra: 81

Ranks of pop, rap and dance on the list of favorite genres to exercise by: 1, 2, 3

Source: Jabra.

Percentage of U.S. adults who currently have estate planning documents such as a will or living trust, according to a Caring.com report: 42

Percentage of U.S. adults who have granted someone legal authorization to make decisions on their medical care if they are unable to do so: 53

Ranks of "I just haven't gotten around to it" and "I don't have enough assets to leave to anyone" on the list of reasons given by those who don't have estate documents: 1, 2

Source: Caring.com.

Idle Thought

"If I knew of something that could serve my nation but would ruin another, I would not propose it to my prince, for I am first a man and only then a Frenchman ... because I am necessarily a man, and only accidentally am I French."

-- Montesquieu, philosopher, lawyer and writer (1689-1755)

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)

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.)

Percentage of workers who said incorporating the "big game" into the workplace has boosted employee happiness, according to a survey from staffing firm OfficeTeam: 66

Percentage of workers who said they're less productive the day following a large sporting event: 11

Percentage of respondents who said sporting events have no impact on their work productivity: 67

Percentage of employees who said the most distracting or annoying co-worker behavior when it comes to major sporting events is being a poor sport or overly competitive: 30

Source: OfficeTeam.

When asked how often they come in late to work, percentage of workers who admitted they do it at least once a month, up from 25 percent last year, according to a new CareerBuilder survey: 29

Percentage who say it's a weekly occurrence, up 3 percentage points since last year: 16

Percentage of employers and employees believe the concept of "working 9 to 5" is an antiquated practice: 64

Percentage of employers who expect employees to be on time every day: 53

Percentage who have fired someone for being late: 41

Source: CareerBuilder.com.

Average credit card debt per person in America, according to research by Credit Donkey: $5,331

Percentage of people who have debt of some sort: 69

Percentage who owe credit card debt: 38.1

Current outstanding revolving debt in the U.S.: $992.4 billion.

Source: CreditDonkey.com.

Percentage of global respondents who agree that face-to-face interactions are being replaced with electronic ones, according to a survey by Nielsen: 66

Percentage who say they prefer texting to talking anyway: 47

Source: Nielsen Analytics.

Percentage of women who say they do not expect to receive any gifts or special dinners to mark Valentine's Day, according to a survey commissioned by epi24: 44

Percentage of those in a relationship who report dreading Valentine's Day more than any other holiday: 41

Percentage of them who say length of relationship does not matter when it comes to celebrating on Feb. 14: 61

Source: epi24.

Percentage of small business owners in the U.S. (1 to 500 employees) who expect their businesses to improve in the year ahead, according to a study conducted by Ipsos on behalf of New York Life: 60

Percentage who predict technology will have the most positive impact on small businesses in the year ahead: 75

Source: New York Life.

Percentage of Americans who wrongly believe it is best to let your car warm up before you hit the road, according to the Hankook Tire America Corporation and Bloomberg: 82

Percentage who wrongly think the gas in your car's tank will freeze if you leave your car outside in extreme cold conditions: 35

Source: Bloomberg.

Percentage of Americans who don't have enough savings to pay for a $500 car repair or a $1,000 emergency room bill, according to a Bankrate.com report: 58

Percentage who have savings they can rely on in an emergency: 41

Source: Bankrate.com.

Despite general optimism about the next four years, percentage of Americans who plan to look for a better-paying job and increase overall savings, according to a survey by Experian: 43

Percentage who said they will decrease their spending: 39

Percentage who will look for an additional job: 34

Ranks of "save more," "be a smarter shopper" and "pay off credit card debt" on the list of the top financial goals for the next four years for all respondents: 1, 2, 3

Source: Experian Consumer Direct.

Percentage of Americans who know that most Americans qualify for Medicare when they turn 65, according to an Ipsos survey: 75

Percentage who know that living in poverty alone does not qualify you for Medicaid: 35

Percentage of Americans who know that they pay more for health care than people in other countries: 82

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Idle Thought

"It is the ability to take a joke, not make one, that proves you have a sense of humor. " -- Max Eastman, journalist and poet

(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)