Percentage of partnered millennials and Gen Zers who have been mad at their partner for a financial decision they made, according to a survey by MagnifyMoney by LendingTree: 74

Ranks of their partner making a big purchase without telling them about it and spending a lot of money on something the respondent considers to be frivolous on the list of the top argument drivers: 1, 2

Source: LendingTree.

Time that employees waste completing HR-related tasks each month across large companies in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, according to a survey issued by Topia and conducted by Method Research: 40 million hours

Estimated amount lost in productivity: $8.15 billion

Source: Topia.

Average amount that kids aged 4 to 14 received in allowance in 2020 ($8.75 a week), according to RoosterMoney's Annual Kids' Allowance Report: $455

Percentage that they saved: 45

Source: RoosterMoney.

Period that a strain of influenza known as Spanish flu caused a global pandemic, spreading rapidly and killing indiscriminately, according to Live Science: 1918 to 1920

Estimated number of people worldwide who were infected: 500 million

Estimated number who died: 50 million

From 1981 to present, estimated number of people who have died of AIDS since HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, was identified: 35 million

As of Feb. 7, estimated number of people worldwide who had been infected with COVID-19: 106,541,162

Estimated number who had died: 2,324,246

Source: Live Science

Estimated percentage of Americans who said they canceled up to four trips (leisure and business) last year, according to a survey from IHG Hotels and Resorts: 60

Percentage of those travelers who said they have now rebooked canceled trips or plan to rebook them, with family vacations and visiting loved ones topping travel wish lists for 2021: 50

Percentage of respondents who said they plan to make up for the lack of travel in 2020 by going on more trips in 2021: 20

Source: IHG Hotels and Resorts.

Percentage of Americans who do not expect to get back to something like their normal, pre-COVID life for at least six months (around late summer), according to findings from an Axios-Ipsos Coronavirus Index: 65

Percentage who believe it will not happen until next year: 33

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Projected growth in the global gambling market -- from $465.76 billion in 2020 to $516.03 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%, according to a Research and Markets report: $50.27 billion

Projected value of the market in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%: $674.7 billion

Percentage of the market accounted for by Asia and the Pacific, the largest region in the global gambling market in 2020: 38

Percentage accounted for by North America, the second largest region: 29

Source: Research and Markets.

When consumers were informed that only the first and last 10 minutes of their most recent flight were likely controlled by a pilot and the rest was autonomous, percentage who said that they would feel much safer in a fully autonomous plane, according to a global survey commissioned by ANSYS: 3

Percentage who said they would definitely or probably be willing to ride in a flying taxi: 63

Source: ANSYS.

Percentage of renters who said they worried their packages would be stolen from their doorstep (41% reported that packages actually had been stolen from their doorsteps multiple times), according to a survey by ButterflyMX and Entrata: 89

Percentage of renters who complain about parking and accessibility issues -- whether it's finding a place to park (74%) or finding someone else has parked in their spot (28%): 53

Source: ButterflyMX.

Percentage of Americans who say the COVID-19 pandemic has caused them to put off general dental checkups, which can lead to serious oral health problems, according to a survey commissioned by the American Association of Endodontists: 50

Percentage who said they were snacking more on sweets: 31

Percentage who didn't schedule or forgot to schedule a dental visit: 28

Source: American Association of Endodontists.

Idle Thought

"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." -- Thomas Pynchon, novelist

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

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.)