Number of times that men are more likely than women to think a Valentine's Day gift is worth going into credit card debt, according to a survey by Wallethub: 2

Percentage of people who wouldn't marry someone with bad credit: 47

Percentage who would break up with their significant other if he or she spent irresponsibly: 47

Source: WalletHub.

Unemployment rate in the hotel industry, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association: 18.9

Projected occupancy rate for rooms in 2021: 50

Percentage by which business travel bookings are expected to be down in 2021 vs. 2019: 85

Source: American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Percentage of Americans who say being your own boss is something everyone dreams of, according to a survey conducted by Regina Corso Consulting: 25

Percentage who are making plans to do so: 13

Percentage who have thought about it: 18

Source: Regina Corso Consulting.

Percentage of restaurants and bars that say they couldn't pay all or some of their rent in January 2021, according to a survey by Alignable: 57

Percentage of yoga studios that couldn't pay the rent: 46

Percentage of retailers: 44

Source: Alignable.

Percentage of full-time employees in the U.S. who are seeking new jobs in 2021, according to a study published by CareerArc: 61

Percentage of companies that believe at least 1 in 5 in their workforce is currently looking for a new job at other companies: 39

Source: CareerArc.

With thousands more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine rolling out every day, percentage of Americans who say they'll go to restaurants as much as or more than they did before the pandemic, once coronavirus restrictions are lifted and they again feel safe, according to data from the Ipsos Coronavirus Consumer Tracker: 77

Percentage who say they'll go to shopping centers or malls as much as or more than they did before the pandemic: 72

Percentage of respondents who now say they want the vaccine as soon as it's available, up from 33% a month ago and only 13% in September: 49

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of U.S. adults who plan to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, spending a total of $21.8 billion, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation: 52

Percentage of the consumers celebrating Valentine's Day this year who feel it is important to do so given the current state of the pandemic: 73

Percentage who plan to gift their loved one with an evening out, the lowest in the survey's history: 24

Percentage who say they will plan a special dinner or celebration in the comfort of their own home: 41

Source: NRF.

Estimated percentage of Americans who did not make a large purchase last year due to COVID-19, according to a survey by WalletHub: 42

Number of Americans who fear maxing out their credit cards on large purchases: 91 million

When defining a "large purchase," percentage of respondents who indicated it is any purchase over $100: 30

Over $250: 28

Over $500: 24

Over $1,000: 18

Source: WalletHub.

Of reporters and editors who now depend on social media sources when researching their stories, percentage who said they turn to blogs for story research, according to a survey conducted by Cision and Don Bates of George Washington University's masters degree program in strategic public relations: 89

Percentage who turn to social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn: 65

Percentage who use microblogging services such as Twitter: 52

Percentage who use Wikipedia, the popular online encyclopedia: 61

Source: Cision.

Amid the pandemic, economic uncertainty and social turmoil, percentage of nonprofit employees who say that their employer cut costs last year, with 49% expecting further cuts in 2021, according to research by Eagle Hill Consulting: 58

Percentage of employees who say that nonprofit leaders have implemented significant changes to their organizations' goals and activities: 54

Source: Eagle Hill Consulting.

Idle Thought

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for." -- Joseph Addison, writer (1672-1719)

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

Number of vaccinated health care workers who have been invited to attend Super Bowl LV, according to an announcement by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: 7,500

Total number of fans who will be in attendance: 22,000

Source: CNN Money.

Percentage of Americans who could cover an unexpected $1,000 expense, such as a car repair or emergency room bill, from their savings, according to a survey from Bankrate.com (down from 41% in 2020): 39

Percentage who would have to borrow money to meet their expenses: 38

Percentage who would finance it with a credit card and pay it off over time: 18

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of companies that believe 2021 hiring demand will approach, return to or even exceed pre-pandemic levels, according to a study published by CareerArc: 76

Rank of "talent retention" on the list of top employer concerns in 2021: 1

Source: CareerArc.

Percentage of those over the age of 60 who have a hoarding disorder, according to research by Assisted Living Services Inc.: 7

Percentage by which the prevalence of hoarding increases for every five years in age: 20

Source: Assisted Living Services Inc.

Percentage of people who are shopping online more than they did before the pandemic (with 36% doing so much more often), according to global research by ESET: 70

Percentage who expect to do more online shopping post-pandemic: 44

Source: ESET.

Percentage of professionals who would consider relocating if their company offered long-term remote arrangements, according to Robert Half research: 51

Percentage who have already made a move: 4

Percentage who would not be willing to take a pay cut in their current job if they were to move: 75

Source: Robert Half Finance and Accounting.

Percentage of home workers who report a worsening sense of isolation, according to research by Steelcase: 37

Percentage who report a drop in their productivity: 20

Percentage who report a drop in their engagement: 20

Percentage who enjoy not commuting: 35

Percentage who have a worsening work-life balance: 16.5

Source: Steelcase.

Percentage of small businesses that plan to outsource in 2021, citing as the reason the prospect of saving time and money and working with experts, according to a report from Clutch: 80

Percentage of businesses with fewer than 10 employees that use outsourcing to get help from an expert: 26

Percentage of small businesses that are weighing their options whether to outsource "onshore," or domestically: 56

Percentage who plan to "nearshore," or outsource to a neighboring or nearby country: 15

Source: Clutch.

According to the 2021 Digital Innovation Benchmark report, percentage of technology leaders who expect a business to go under or be acquired by 2024 if they lag in digital innovation, up from 37% in Kong Inc.'s inaugural 2020 report: 51

Percentage who predict this outcome within six years: 84

Source: Kong Inc.

Ranks of deteriorating health, loss of income or employment, and more frequent weather-related natural disasters on the list of real threats perceived by adults throughout the world, according to a global survey by Ipsos for the World Economic Forum: 1, 2, 3

Ranks of conflicts and trade disputes between my country and other countries, worsening social prejudice or inequality, and more difficulty accessing training/education on the list: 4, 5, 6,

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Idle Thought

"You've got to have something to eat and a little love in your life before you can hold still for any damn body's sermon on how to behave." -- Billie Holiday, jazz singer and songwriter

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

Ranks of the food, being social and the game itself on the list of the top reasons people attend a football game party, according to a survey commissioned by Farm Rich: 1, 2, 3

Percentage who noted that they have been so wrapped up in the food and social side of things they have missed a lot of the game: 40

Percentage of respondents who revealed they have called in sick to work the day after the game: 32

Source: Farm Rich.

Percentage of Americans who say Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an essential holiday for remembering the importance of U.S. civil rights, according to a survey by Reputation Leaders: 75

Percentage of U.S. adults nationally who agree that civil rights are as important in 2021 as at any time in the last 30 years: 80

Source: Reputation Leaders Ltd.

Percentage increase in searches for homes in ski towns in the fourth quarter of 2020, with much of the increased demand coming from "snowbirds" -- people who generally migrate to warmer climates in the winter -- as they search for homes with outdoor recreation options closer to home during the pandemic, according to a report from Realtor.com: 36

Ranks of Union Dale, Pennsylvania; Choteau, Montana; and North Creek, New York, on the list of resorts showing the greatest increases in searches: 1, 2, 3

Source: Realtor.com.

Percentage increase in retail sales during 2020's November-December holiday season over the same period in 2019, to $789.4 billion, exceeding the National Retail Federation's holiday forecast, despite the economic challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, according to research by NRF: 8.3

Source: NRF.

Percentage of retirees who reported that their standard of living was the same or higher in retirement than when they were working: according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's Spending in Retirement Survey: 69

Percentage of respondents who felt their spending level is about the right amount for what they could afford.: 61

Percentage who reported that they had saved more than was needed for retirement, while nearly half (46%) reported having saved less than they needed: 18

Source: EBRI.

Ranks of recruiting and retaining top talent, recession risk, vaccine availability and accelerating digital transformation on the list of issues that will keep business leaders up at night in the new year, according to a survey of C-suite executives from the Conference Board: 1, 2, 3, 4

Ranks of reduced office space, reduced business travel and increases in automation tasks on the list of the most likely long-term impacts of COVID-19 in the United States: 1, 2, 3

Source: The Conference Board.

Number of times more likely that men are than women to get a credit card annual fee waived, according to a WalletHub survey: 2

Percentage of Americans who would rather call their in-laws than their credit card company: 50

Percentage of consumers who agree that calling customer service is worth it: 75

Among credit card users who have called customer service, percentage who have gotten a fee waived: 41

Source: WalletHub.

For those in households that have suffered a setback in income during the pandemic, monthly average for checking account costs, according to a new Bankrate.com report: $11

Monthly average paid by those who say their household income has not been negatively impacted by the pandemic: less than $3

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of Americans who said they are more interested in smart home technology now that they're spending more time at home, according to a survey by realtor.com: 25

Percentage of smart home technology owners who have bought at least one device or feature since the pandemic began: 41

Ranks of smart TVs, smart speakers, smart doorbells and robot vacuums on the list of the most commonly owned products: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: Realtor.com.

Percentage of Americans who think income inequality will increase this year, compared to 66% of global respondents, according to Ipsos research: 48

Percentage of Americans who think increased income inequality is unlikely, compared to 24% of their global counterparts: 35

Percentage of Americans who believe a new global pandemic caused by a new virus will confront the world in 2021, compared to 47% of global respondents: 34

Idle Thought

"He who establishes his argument by noise and command, shows that his reason is weak." -- Michel De Montaigne, essayist

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