oddities

Figuratively Speaking for May 08, 2020

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | May 8th, 2020

Percentage of diners who have been annoyed by their dinner companion's phone use in the past, according to a 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

Percentage who turn it upside down: 49

Percentage more likely that women are than men to say they hide their phone to avoid using it during a meal than men (39% to 24%): 15

Source: OpenTable Inc.

Percentage of people who gave their national government the best rating for its performance compared to other institutions, according to findings from Fleishman-Hillard six-country consumer study in the United States, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea and the United Kingdom: 47

Percentage of Chinese consumers who rate their national government "excellent" or "great": 79

Ranks of their counterparts in the U.K. (50%), South Korea (43%), Italy (39%), Germany (37%) and the U.S. (34%): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Source: Fleishman-Hillard.

Percentage of family members who believed they anticipated their mom's Mother's Day dining preferences "extremely well" or "very well," according to a survey by TripAdvisor: 70

Percentage of moms who agree: 46

Percentage of moms whose top dining choice for celebrating Mother's Day was going out to brunch: 30

Percentage who report being taken out to brunch by their families: 16

Source: TripAdvisor.

Percentage of Americans who told Bankrate.com that the federal government needs to do more to address their personal financial concerns stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak: 57

Percentage who say the government has done enough: 32

Percentage who believe it has done more than enough: 11

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of workers in the U.S. who say their quality of work has improved amid the disruptive impact of COVID-19, according to a pulse survey by KPMG LLP: 64

Percentage who reported better collaboration: 70

Percentage who said that their team has effectively adapted to working together during this time: 82

Source: KPMG LLP.

Percentage of parents who are more worried about their finances now than before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to findings by OfferUp: 66

Percentage of parents who are experiencing more parenting stress compared to before the coronavirus pandemic: 63

Percentage who say finding ways to keep their children entertained is currently the most challenging part of parenting: 70

Source: OfferUp.

Percentage of Americans ages 18 to 54 who have three or more mother figures in their lives, according to a survey conducted by Edible Arrangements: 44

Of the "other mother" figures, ranks of friends, grandmothers and mothers-in-law on the list of the top "other mother" figures they look to the most: 1, 2(tie)

Source: Edible Arrangements.

Percentage of Americans who report receiving government stimulus money, according to an Ipsos survey: 49

Among those who have, percentage who report putting it into savings: 38

Percentage who reported not spending it yet: 18

Percentage who said they are using the stimulus money to pay for food and household needs: 25

Percentage who report using it to pay rent or mortgage: 14

Percentage who gave it to someone in need: 5

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of U.S. broadband households who subscribe to an OTT (content delivered by high-speed internet) service, an increase of roughly 6 million households since Q1 2019, according to research by Parks Associates: 76

Number of OTT users who exhibited significant shifts in preferred genres and shows, notably a shift to the comedy genre after shelter-in-place orders, according to data from Reelgood: 4.8 million

Source: Parks Associates.

Idle Thought

"There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth." -- Leo Tolstoy, novelist

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

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for May 01, 2020

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | May 1st, 2020

Percentage of Americans who have canceled their summer travel plans for this year, leading to more distress for the travel industry, according to a survey by ValuePenguin.com: 48

Percentage who also said they would wait a full year before traveling again: 17

Source: ValuePenguin.com.

Percentage of Americans who say they have enjoyed staying in pajamas and/or stretchy pants all day during the shut down, according to an Ipsos North America Omnibus survey: 33

Percentage who enjoyed just the sense of the world slowing down: 32

Percentage who enjoyed exercising/meditating/improving health: 19

Source: Ipsos Reid Omnibus Services.

Estimated number of Americans who are less than three months away from running out of money, according to a survey by Wallethub: 160 million

Estimated percentage of respondents who don't think people's unemployment income should be more than their previous income: 56

Percentage more likely that millennials are than baby boomers to think that stimulus checks should only be given to people experiencing income loss: 25

Source: WalletHub.

Although a majority of consumers believe a return to "normal" life is 17 weeks away, percentage who are predicting it's anywhere from five months to two years, according to findings from a Fleishman-Hillard consumer study conducted in the United States, China, Germany, Italy, South Korea and United Kingdom: 20

Percentage who report the pandemic has changed the products and services they once thought were important, a phenomenon even more widespread in China (86%) and Italy (73%): 68

Source: Fleishman-Hillard.

Percentage of Americans who don't have enough money saved to cover COVID-19 medical costs, according to a Healthinsurance.com survey: 52

Percentage who would think twice about seeking medical care right now because of cost: 46

Source: Healthinsurance.com.

Percentage of shoppers who said it's extremely or very likely that their grocery habits will return to normal once the pandemic is over, according to COVID-19 grocery shopper research from Acosta: 68

Percentage of shoppers who said it's extremely or very likely that they will eat at home more than they used to for a while: 56

Source: Acosta.

Percentage of Americans who perceive cycling as a safer mode of transportation vs. public transportation while social distancing, according to a Trek Bicycle survey: 85

If Americans must travel within five miles during COVID-19, percentage who included biking in their top three primary modes of transportation: 90

Percentage of Americans who are riding bikes to replace public transportation: 14

Source: Trek Bicycle Corp.

Approximate number of Americans who filed new claims for jobless benefits last week -- meaning the total number of new claims has topped 30 million over six weeks, according to research by MarketWatch: 3.8 million

Rank of new unemployment claims on the list of the most important indicators of the economic destruction caused by the coronavirus pandemic: 1

Source: MarketWatch.

Percentage of consumers who are interested in using gift cards and e-gifts for charity or kindness during this crisis, such as contributing to a gift card for a person or family in need, according to research by Blackhawk: 88

Source: Blackhawk Network.

Percentage of employees who feel they are less productive working from home than when they worked from the office, according to a study by VitalSmarts: 33

Ranks of not connecting with colleagues, available technology and too many distractions on the list of challenges that contribute to employees feeling less productive: 1, 2, 3

Source: VitalSmarts.

Idle Thought

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion." -- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, philosopher

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

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for April 24, 2020

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | April 24th, 2020

Percentage of Americans who say they have reached out to a friend, neighbor or loved one to help during this pandemic crisis, according to an Ipsos' North America Omnibus survey: 70

When asked, percentage of respondents who say they can think of something positive they have personally enjoyed or experienced during the coronavirus outbreak: 93

Percentage who said more time at home: 51

Percentage who said cleaning/decluttering: 43

Source: Ipsos Reid Omnibus Services.

According to NameSnack's new business name-generation website, average percentage increase in traffic on their website on a typical day since Americans went into some sort of lockdown, suggesting that there has been a huge increase in interest from people considering starting their own business: 362

Source: NameSnack.

Percentage of Americans who report feeling anxious as a result of the pandemic, according to a study by Cohen Veterans Network: 64

Percentage who cite feeling lonely or isolated: 49

Percentage who are having trouble sleeping: 46

Source: Cohen Veterans Network.

Ranks of New Hampshire, Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina on the list of states with the highest percentage increases in unemployment, according to research by WalletHub: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Rank of Oregon, Connecticut, Alaska, Wyoming and Wisconsin on the list of states with the smallest percentage increases in unemployment: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: WalletHub.

When asked how individuals would invest $5,000 in their future education or training, percentage who said they would spend those funds with an online college or university, according to a Strada Education Network survey: 26

Percentage who said apprenticeship or internship with a local employer: 18

Source: Strada Education Network.

Percentage of homeowners who asked their mortgage lender for a reprieve from their monthly payment because of the coronavirus outbreak who were granted one, according to a survey from LendingTree: 91

Estimated percentage of people who didn't ask for help with their credit card or mortgage payments who said they didn't realize they had that option: 20

Source: LendingTree.

Percentage of Americans who say they are washing their hands more frequently, more thoroughly or longer per CDC recommendations, according to the Bradley Corp.: 90

Percentage who are washing their hands six or more times a day -- compared to just 37% who washed up that often prior to the outbreak: 78

Source: Bradley Corp.

Percentage of American consumers who report they are cooking more, according to research from the marketing and PR firm Hunter, revealing the impact of COVID-19 on Americans' food habits: 54

Of the 75% of American adults who are cooking more, percentage who report that they are more confident in the kitchen: 50

Percentage who said they are learning more about cooking and starting to build more confidence: 26

Percentage who said they are enjoying it more: 35

Source: Hunter.

In light of the current pandemic, percentage of all Americans who have been jolted into realizing the need to take action now to protect the planet, according to research commissioned by ecoATM Gazelle: 17

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, percentage more people who now agree climate change is a real thing: 10

Percentage who believe we can all make a difference: 30

Source: ecoATM Gazelle.

Despite the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, percentage of companies that have no immediate plans to make any pay adjustments for salaried staff, according to a survey from executive compensation consultancy Pearl Meyer: 48

Percentage that have no adjustment plans for hourly staff: 54

Percentage of companies that have taken staffing actions (such as furloughs or layoffs): 22

Percentage that are considering taking actions: 31

Source: Pearl Meyer and Partners.

Idle Thought

"I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way." -- Edgar Guest, poet

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

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