Percentage of Americans who eat pizza, according to a survey by Caulipower: 98
Number of Americans who admit they would choose pizza to be their last meal on Earth: 33 million
Source: Caulipower.
Ranks of being kept on hold, rude service and automated phone menus on the list of the top frustrations with telephone customer service, according to a survey by Clutch: 1, 2, 3
Percentage of people who ranked an "efficient resolution to my issue" as the trait they value most when calling a business: 79
Source: Clutch.
Percentage of retirees who agree that their retirement has turned out to be just as good or better than expected, according to a study by T. Rowe Price: 84
Percentage who agree that they are enjoying retirement more than their primary working years: 80
Percentage of current workers who believe they will live as well or better in retirement: 39
Source: T. Rowe Price.
On a scale of 1 to 100, ranks of family members, friends, co-workers, going solo and their partners on the list of people men had the most fun spending time with, according to a survey by OC and C Strategy Consultants: 1, 2, 3, 4 (tie)
Ranks of family members, friends, their partners, co-workers and going solo on the women's list of their favorite people to hang out with: 1, 2, 3, 4 (tie)
Source: OC and C Strategy Consultants.
Rank of Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, on the list of the most expensive ski resorts in the United States, according to a research report conducted by Cheaphotels.org: 1
In Deer Valley, average amount guests spend per night for the least expensive double room -- by far the highest rate among all destinations considered: $543
Ranks of Beaver Creek (Colorado) $416, Alta (Utah) $413 and Vail (Colorado) on the list: 2, 3, 4
Source: Cheaphotels.org.
While people may not always listen to a parent or friend's dating advice, percentage of people who would not even consider dating someone who did not like their dog, according to a survey for the online dog-walking app Wag!: 50
Percentage who would say that their dog is an excellent judge of character: 70
Percentage of those who had dated someone despite their dog's negative feelings toward that person who would "never make that mistake again": 23
Source: Wag!
Percentage of American adults who say online reviews are extremely or very important in helping them decide which products and services to buy, according to a survey conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of Ally: 49
In the past year, percentage of adults who have actually used online reviews to help them choose a bank or financial services provider: 23
Source: Ally Financial.
Percentage of credit card holders who say that their primary card has lasted them longer than their most recent romantic relationship, according to a report from CompareCards.com: 41
Percentage of cardholders who said they never plan to change their primary credit card: 26
Source: CompareCards.
Percentage of all employees who say that "seeing well at work" is important to them, according to a Transitions Optical survey: 98
Percentage of employees who are bothered by vision-related symptoms at work -- ranging from eye fatigue and headaches to dry eyes and blurred vision: 80
Percentage who say they are less productive than they could be: 40
Source: Transitions Optical.
Percentage of people surveyed by the GO Group LLC, who said they were planning to travel this upcoming spring: 20
Percentage of those who said they are headed somewhere warm and sunny: 27
Percentage who are headed to the mountains for skiing and other snowy winter fun: 7
Percentage who said they are headed somewhere outside the U.S.: 20
Source: GO Group LLC.
Idle Thought
"So if we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we feel guilty or fear retribution." -- J.M. Coetzee, author of "Disgrace"
(Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.)