oddities

Figuratively Speaking for July 08, 2022

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | July 8th, 2022

Number of high-net-worth individuals Russia is expected to to lose to migration in 2022, according to forecast HNWI figures published in the latest Henley Global Citizens Report: 15,000

Percentage of Russia's total millionaire population this represents: 15

Source: Henley Global Citizen Report.

Number of sushi restaurants in the U.S., according to apartmentguide.com and Eva Bowen of Pitch Public Relations: 16,000

Rank of New York City (with 221) as the city with the most sushi restaurants of any city in the country: 1

Source: Eva Bowen, Pitch Public Relations.

On average, percentage of adults across 28 countries who say they commute to their place of work or education by bicycle, according to Ipsos research: 12

In the Netherlands, percentage who commute by bicycle to their place of work or education: 30

Source: Ipsos Global Public Affairs.

For one-night micro-cationers, average anticipated spend, according to a survey from Allianz Partners USA: $606

For travelers planning a two-night getaway, average spend per night: $419

Source: Allianz Global Assistance USA.

To hedge against inflation, percentage of respondents who say they'll change their risk tolerance/investment approach, according to a poll by The Harris Poll: 49

Ranks of cutting back on daily expenses, and reining in entertainment, dining out and travel spending on the list of ways Americans are cutting back expenses: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: The Harris Poll.

Percentage of employees with a retirement plan who have $250,000 or more in assets, according to research by the Employee Benefit Research Institute: 41

Percentage of employees without a retirement plan who have $250,000 or more in assets: 3

Percentage of employees with a retirement plan who have less than $10,000 savings and investments: 14

Percentage of employees without a retirement plan who have less than $10,000 savings and investment: 74

Source: EBRI.

Percentage of consumers who still report working from home full-time more often than compared to pre-COVID-19-schedules, according to a survey from Packaged Facts: 27

Percentage who report working from home part-time more often than they did before the pandemic: 23

Source: Packaged Facts.

Percentage of all U.S. homeowners who have noticed higher electricity prices than they're accustomed to in the past year, according to SaveOnEnergy.com: 62

Percentage of all U.S. homeowners who have taken at least one measure in the past year to reduce home energy costs: 87

Percentage of homeowners who said they are considering alternative options to reduce costs, such as hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles or solar panels: 33

Source: SaveOnEnergy.com.

Percentage of Americans who say they are likely to take at least one vacation this summer, according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 61

Among those who are not planning to take a summer vacation, percentage who say they cannot afford it, the most common response: 48

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage by which usage of traditional pay TV declined since 2014, according to Parks Associates: 27

Source: Parks Associates.

Idle Thought

"When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become." -- Louis Pasteur, chemist and bacteriologist (1822-1895)

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for July 01, 2022

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | July 1st, 2022

Amount that Americans plan to spend on 4th of July food, according to research by WalletHub: $7.7 billion

Number of hot dogs eaten each 4th of July: 150 million

Amount that Americans plan to spend on 4th of July beer and wine: $1.4 billion plus

Amount projected to be spent on fireworks: $2.4 billion

Source: WalletHub.

Percentage of Americans who feel like they may miss legitimate calls because they suspect they are spam and do not answer, according to research by Truecaller: 63

After being scammed, percentage of victims who reported that they had downloaded a spam blocker and/or caller ID app to further protect themselves: 43

Percentage of Americans who said they try to answer calls only if they can identify the person or business that is calling: 86

Source: Truecaller.

Percentage of Americans who are looking to take quick getaways this summer, favoring a "microcation" versus the traditional week-long vacation, according to a survey from Allianz Partners USA: 53

Percentage who will travel away from home between now and September for at least one night: 71

Percentage who are planning multiple trips away from home this summer (up from 34% last year): 39

Source: Allianz Global Assistance USA.

Percentage of Americans who need side job income to pay for living expenses, up from 31% in 2019, according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 41

Percentage of respondents who have increased working hours due to rising prices: 33 plus

Average monthly income for a side gig in 2022: $996

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of hybrid office workers who say they use a personal technology device for work, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Fusion Connect: 50

Percentage of hybrid workers who feel they work more hours than peers doing the same job who are not hybrid: 34

Source: Fusion Connect.

Percentage of U.S. consumers who say their standard of living is declining, according to a poll by The Harris Poll: 56

Percentage of people are taking financial action to prepare: 73

Percentage who are battening down the hatches by paying off debt more aggressively than they otherwise would: 56

Percentage who are socking away more in short term savings: 58

Source: The Harris Poll.

Percentage of this year's college graduates who report that circumstances caused by COVID-19 have increased the importance of work-life balance for them, according to a survey from BestColleges.com: 69

Percentage of graduates who say work-life balance is important to them and of those, most believe a flexible work schedule (54%) and health insurance coverage (53%) are necessary employment-related factors for achieving it: 89

Source: BestColleges.com.

Percentage of Americans who support forgiving up to $10,000 in federal student loans, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll among American adults: 55

Percentage who support forgiving up to $50,000 in student loans: 47

Percentage who support forgiving all student loan debt: 41

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of Americans who say they aren't exposed to the recommended levels of bright light, an important factor in ensuring a sound sleep, according to the 2022 Sleep in America Poll: 50

Percentage who fall short of CDC's recommendations for moderate or vigorous activity, another key factor in ensuring a sound sleep: 33

Percentage of Americans who eat meals at inconsistent times, making it more difficult for their bodies to regulate the sleep/wake process: 40

Source: National Sleep Foundation.

Percentage of Americans who know that a group of women called "ale wives" were the unsung heroes who brought beer to America, according to research from Miller Light: 3

Year the word "alewife" was first recorded in England to mean "a woman that keeps an ale-house," synonymous with the word "brewester" (Oxford English Dictionary, compact edition, 1971): 1393

Year that Mary Lisle began and successfully ran a Philadelphia brewery, becoming the first American woman to own and operate one: 1734

Source: Pink Boots Society.

Idle Thought

"Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence." -- Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, judge and politician (1796-1865)

oddities

Figuratively Speaking for June 24, 2022

Figuratively Speaking by by John MacIntyre
by John MacIntyre
Figuratively Speaking | June 24th, 2022

Percentage of Americans who say they always tip, according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 66

Percentage of Americans who say they always tip at a sit-down restaurant: 73� Percentage who always tip food delivery people: 57� Percentage who always tip a taxi/rideshare driver: 43� Percentage who always tip when picking up takeout food: 13

Source: Bankrate.com.

Rank of broccoli, corn, carrots, potatoes and asparagus on the list of America's favorite vegetables, according to a survey by Green Giant: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5� Number of states that chose broccoli as their favorite: 29� Percentage of the states that swapped their favorite vegetable pick in 2022 -- including Iowa -- which no longer chose corn as the favorite, but instead selected broccoli this year: 54

Source: Green Giant.

Percentage of American adults who say their mental health is excellent or good, compared to 26% who rate their mental health as fair or poor, according to the American Psychiatric Association: 72� Rank of spending time outdoors, taking a vacation, and longer amounts of daylight on the list of ways that the summer would have a positive impact on their mental health: 1, 2, 3� Rank of hot weather and wearing clothes that show more of their body on the list of negative impacts summer could have on their mental health: 25

Source: American Psychiatric Association.

Average percentage of the transaction amount charged by Visa and Mastercard's U.S. credit card swipe fees, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition: 2.22� Rank of swipe fees, after labor costs, on the list of most merchants' highest operating costs: 2� Source: Merchants Payments Coalition.

Percentage of Americans who say they are not prepared for a financial emergency, according to WalletHub's 2022 financial health survey: 30� Percentage who say they are not on track for retirement: 53

Source: WalletHub.

Percentage of people who admit disliking up to 15 items they've purchased online, according to a survey commissioned by Slickdeals: 73� Rank of stowing away their unfortunate online buys somewhere out of sight, gifting these items to someone they know, and returning/exchanging them (39%) on the list of ways shoppers admitted to dealing with these buys: 1, 2, 3

Source: Slickdeals.

Percentage of men who say they're OK with a "dad bod" -- the characteristic paunchy physique that men can develop with age and that women reportedly desire, according to the a national study by MDVIP: 55� Percentage of men who failed a Men's Health IQ quiz that tested their knowledge on the common health issues that afflict men: 94

Source: MDVIP Media Relations.

Percentage of people in the U.S. and an average of 78% across 28 countries who agree in principle that people should be able to take refuge in other countries, including their own, to escape war or persecution, according to research by Ipsos: 82� Percentage in the U.S. and 16% on average globally who disagree: 10� Number of people who are now forcibly displaced around the world, according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in light of the Ukraine crisis, which is the fastest displacement crisis in recent times: 100 million-plus

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of American voters who oppose taxes on employer-provided health care coverage, according to a poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the Alliance to Fight for Health Care: 87� Number of Americans who currently have health insurance through an employer: 180 million

Source: Alliance to Fight for Health Care.

Idle Thought

"Every age is fed on illusions, lest men should renounce life early and the human race come to an end." -- Joseph Conrad, novelist (1857-1924)

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