oddities

Figuratively Speaking for June 07, 2019

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | June 7th, 2019

Percentage of workers who plan to work after they retire, including 41% who plan to work part time and 14% full time, according to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies: 55

Among workers planning to work in retirement past age 65, percentage who plan to do so for financial reasons: 80

Percentage of workers who envision a phased transition into retirement: 44

Source: TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies.

Percentage of managers who don't think negative online employer reviews significantly impact their ability to recruit top candidates, according to a survey by Randstad: 66

Percentage of employees who say they won't even apply to a company with negative reviews: 57

Source: Randstad.

Percentage of grandparents who would accept an LGBT grandchild, according to research by AARP: 87

Percentage who have grandchildren of mixed or different race/ethnicity: 34

Percentage who say their relationships with their grandchild(ren) is good for their mental well-being: 89

Source: AARP.

Percentage of pet parents who allow their dog on their furniture, according to a survey commissioned by Merrick Pet Care: 73

Percentage who let their dog sleep in their bed: 66

Source: Merrick Pet Care Inc.

Percentage increase in buttock augmentation in the last five years, with more than $100 million spent in 2018, according to data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: 61

Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Percentage of business travelers married or in a relationship who prefer to sleep in a hotel bed they have all to themselves the night before a big meeting, according to a La Quinta Means Business survey: 43

Percentage who say drinking coffee or tea is one of the most important ways to prepare for work while traveling: 34

Percentage who have stocked up on food from the hotel breakfast bar to eat later in the day: 79

Source: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

Percentage of employers who fear how flexible working -- the flexibility to work outside a company's main location --- may impact the overall company culture, according to research conducted by IWG: 43

From an employee's point of view, percentage of people who would say that flexible working is so important they would prioritize it over having a more prestigious role: 35

Source: IWG.

During this past year alone, number of Americans who admitted that they have been talked about behind their back inside a gym, according to a study commissioned by Planet Fitness: 16 million

Number who have been insulted to their face: 10 million

Percentage of Americans who would do something to make sure they had an area of their gym that was completely free from judgment: 54

Source: Planet Fitness Inc.

If given $25,000 tomorrow, percentage of millennials who would put this newfound money toward a down payment for a new home or pay off a mortgage, according to the latest Country Financial Security Index: 26

Percentage who would use it to pay off their credit card debts: 17

Percentage who would pay off their student loan debts: 16

By contrast, percentage of Americans between the ages of 35 and 49 who would rather pay off their credit card debt: 33

Percentage of this age group who would invest it: 20

Source: Country Financial.

Percentage of adults who say the reliability of their current automobile is the biggest factor leading to their decision to purchase or lease a new vehicle, according to a PenFed Auto Financing Survey: 41

Ranks of reliability and price of the automobile on the list of reasons that factor into their decision to buy or lease a specific model: 1, 2

Source: PenFed Credit Union.

When asked the first thing they would save if their house was burning down, percentage of millennials who identified photos, scrapbooks and memorabilia, compared to only 11% who said their cellphone, according to a survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists: 21

Source: American Association of Endodontists.

Idle Thought

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear -- not absence of fear." -- Mark Twain

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

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for May 31, 2019

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | May 31st, 2019

Percentage of diners who have been annoyed by their dinner companion's phone use in the past, according to survey commissioned by OpenTable: 81

Percentage who say they actually avoid eating with companions who overuse their phones: 20

Percentage of diners who avoid checking their phones at the table by turning it off: 51

Source: OpenTable Inc.

Percentage of Americans who think it's selfish to expect guests to spend their money and vacation days in order to attend celebratory events in far-flung destinations, according to a survey by Allianz Global Assistance: 37.2

Ranks of cost, not knowing the couple well enough to justify the cost and not knowing the couple well enough to justify taking the time off from work on the list of reasons people would not attend a destination wedding: 1, 2, 3

Source: Allianz Global Assistance.

While 72 percent of Americans said they grew up eating at the dining room table, percentage who say they do so today, according to report by oven manufacturer June: 48

Percentage rise in the number of people whose primary eating place is the couch (from 12% to 30%): 18

Percentage rise in the number of people whose primary eating place is the bedroom (6% to 17%): 11

Source: June.

Percentage of workers who say there are at least one or two people on their team who lose track of things or miss deadlines because they fail to capture commitments and ideas, according to a study by VitalSmarts: 94

Percentage who say there are at least one or two people on their team who are often surprised at the last minute by tasks, appointments or deadlines they've forgotten: 91

Source: VitalSmarts.

Percentage of Americans who say their sleep quality is "not very good," according to research by Mattress Firm: 35

Amount the average American would pay every night if it meant having a "perfect night's sleep": $300

Percentage who say that having the TV on is necessary in order to fall asleep: 30

Source: Mattress Firm.

Percentage of global retail chairs, CEOs and senior executives who feel that leadership teams are moving fast enough to keep up with changing consumer behavior, according to a Green Park survey: 36

Percentage who believe their team has the digital expertise necessary for success in the future: 27

Percentage who feel their team has the necessary expertise in data and analytics: 26

Source: Green Park Interim and Executive Ltd.

Percentage of Americans who are taking or planning to take at least one trip between now and September, according to a survey by Expedia: 85

For the 15% of Americans who said they won't be traveling this summer, percentage who claim it's due to budget concerns: 65

Percentage of vacationers who aren't planning to leave the country this summer: 75

Source: Expedia.

Percentage of Americans who have had auto loan debt who say it has taken away some of their peace of mind, according to the results of a Fair consumer survey conducted on their behalf by the Harris Poll: 47

Percentage who would give up social media for life if it meant they never had to make another auto loan payment again: 30

Percentage who would give up coffee in exchange for never having to pay off an auto loan again: 24

Source: Fair.

Percentage of U.S. adults aged 65 years and older with hearing loss who believe hearing loss is an unavoidable part of aging, according to a report released by Cochlear Limited: 77

Percentage of respondents who said it could cause withdrawal and isolation from society: 57

Percentage who said it could affect relationships: 86

Source: Cochlear Limited.

Percentage of workers who said they have backed out of an employment offer after initially saying yes, according to a survey by Robert Half: 28

Of those, percentage who said they backed out because they received a better offer from another company: 44

Percentage who said they had a convincing counteroffer from their current employer: 27

Source: Robert Half Management Resources.

Idle Thought

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." -- Winston S. Churchill

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

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for May 24, 2019

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | May 24th, 2019

Percentage of working American women who are stressed about their personal finances, compared to only 41% of men, according to a study by Salary Finance: 56

On average, percentage less that women are paid annually than men ($58,027 vs. $79,517): 33

Percentage of women who report having less than $500 in their checking/savings accounts, compared to only 18% of men: 41

Source: Salary Finance.

Percentage of families who said that helping children manage feelings of anxiety is just as important as school work, according to a survey by ClassDojo conducted in the U.S., U.K. and Australia: 64

Percentage of teachers who agreed: 63

Percentage of teachers who say their students have experienced anxiety about school life: 92

Source: ClassDojo.

Ranks of flexible schedules (52%) and early departure on Fridays (27%) on employees' list of the best summer perks their companies could provide to them, according to a survey from the staffing firm Accountemps: 1, 2

Percentage of senior managers who said their company offered flexible schedules: 54

Percentage who reported allowing staff to leave early on Fridays: 32

Source: Accountemps.

Percentage of millennials (ages 23 to 38) who say a lucrative sign-up bonus of $500 in cash or $1,200 in travel credit would be the most attractive credit card feature, compared to 22% of those who are older, according to a CreditCards.com report: 36

Percentage of those ages 39 and older who would prefer zero-percent-interest offers, either on new purchases or via balance transfers, compared to 6% of millennials: 30

Source: CreditCards.com.

Percentage of Americans who are planning their next vacation, according to U.S. News and World Report: 54

Percentage of respondents who are not planning on paying for their upcoming trip with a credit card: 45

Percentage who do not have a travel credit card: 61

Percentage who would not open a credit card to help pay for a vacation: 70

Source: U.S. News and World Report.

Percentage of older adults who plan to age in their own home, according to research from Home Instead Inc.: 94

Percentage who believe they will stay healthier longer at home: 53

Percentage who would be heartbroken if they could no longer live at home: 54

Source: Home Instead Senior Care.

Percentage of mothers with a tattoo who would choose to remove a bad tattoo over purchasing a similarly priced piece of jewelry, according to results of a survey by Invisible Ink Tattoo Removers: 51

Percentage who have regrets about their tattoos: 21

Percentage who have felt the need to cover or hide them: 2

Source: Invisible Ink Tattoo Removers.

Percentage of consumers who said small businesses provide better customer service than larger businesses, according to the 2019 Cox Business Consumer Pulse on Small Businesses: 53

Percentage of respondents who said they would spend more money at a small business that supported a positive social or environmental cause: 70

Source: Cox Communications.

When people from around the country were asked which parent taught you the most about money and personal finance, the percentage of Americans who selected "mother," according to research by the Population Reference Bureau and funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: 28

Percentage who selected "father": 24

Percentage who answered neither: 48

Source: National Financial Educators Council.

Idle Thought

"Angry people are not always wise." -- Jane Austen, "Pride and Prejudice"

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

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