Percentage of right-wing populist supporters in Italy who had a positive view of Russia in 2020, according to research by Pew Trusts: 64

Percentage who have a positive view today: 15

Percentage of right-wing populist supporters in France who had a positive view of Russia in 2020: 55

Percentage who have a positive view today: 21

Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

Among U.S. adults who carry debt, average amount held (excluding mortgages), according to research by Northwest Mutual: $22,354

Percentage decrease this amount represents over the last three years: 25

Source: Northwestern Mutual.

Percentage of U.S. adults who admit that hunger gets the best of them five times per week, culminating in more than 21,000 "hangry" outbursts over the course of their lives -- necessitating nearly a lifetime of "hanger" management, according to a survey sponsored by Farm Rich: 75

Ranks of mealtime delays, busy work schedule, not knowing what to cook and not having time to grocery shop on the list of the most common reasons for people's hunger-related irritability: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: Farm Rich.

Chance that a commercial airline flight was delayed in the first five months of 2022, according to a study by ValuePenguin: 1 in 5

Percentage of flights that were canceled, the highest percentage since 2014, excluding the early COVID-19 pandemic time period: 3.2

Percentage more likely passengers were to have their bag mishandled in May 2022 than in May 2021: 50

Source: ValuePenguin.com.

Percentage of Americans with past-due medical expenses, according to research by the Employee Benefit Research Institute: 22

Total value of American medical debt on credit reports: $88 billion

Number of Americans holding such debt: 43 million

Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute.

With "spooky season" approaching, percentage of pet parents who are excited for Halloween this year and plan to involve their furry friend in all of the excitement, according to a survey by Wag!: 95

Percentage who plan to take their pet trick-or-treating: 59

Percentage who would prefer a dog or cat as their trick-or-treating companion to a child or even their spouse: 31

Source: Wag!

Percentage of employees who say they have better job opportunities inside their current organizations than outside, according to a survey by Eagle Hill Consulting: 54

Ranks of flexibility, pay increases, new skill building and a better work environment on the list of advantages perceived over the short term by staying with their present job: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: Eagle Hill Consulting.

To recruit skilled professionals, percentage of employers that are offering higher starting salaries, according to a survey from Robert Half: 46

Percentage of managers who increased base compensation for new hires in the past year who have also made pay adjustments for current staff: 83

Source: Robert Half.

Percentage of consumers planning to celebrate Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation: 69

Expected total Halloween spending this year, a new record: $10.6 billion

Source: National Retail Federation.

Among employed Americans, percentage who received raises in the past 12 months (including 8% that got both a pay raise and a better-paying job), according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 48

Percentage of working Americans who say their income has not kept up with the increase in household expenses: 55

Percentage of Americans who say they are not worried about job security: 61

Source: Bankrate.com.

Idle Thought

"It seems that for success, in science or art, a dash of autism is essential. For success, the necessary ingredients may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, from the simple practical, an ability to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways." -- Hans Asperger, physician (1906-1980)

Most recent year in which mortgage rates reached more than 6%, according to Realtor.com: 2008

When combined with high home prices, percentage surge in the typical mortgage payment for today's buyers compared to one year ago: 66

Source: Realtor.com.

Percentage more people who plan on getting the new iPhone this year compared to those who said the same last year, according to a survey by WalletHub: 24

Percentage of people who think that not having the newest iPhone is a sign someone is struggling financially: 20

Percentage of Americans who say that their mobile phone is their most important possession: 33

Source: WalletHub.

Amount expected to be spent on adult and kids costumes this Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation: $2.9 billion

Percentage who say the leading source for costume inspiration comes from online searches: 36

Percentage who say they will look within retail stores for inspiration: 25

Source: NRF.

Percentage of small- and mid-sized-business owners who are highly optimistic about the near-term prospects for their own businesses, according to a survey by PNC Bank: 49

Percentage who are expecting to raise prices in the next six months: 63

Percentage who envision a recession in the next 12 months: 69

Percentage of those who rely on a supply chain who say it remains a problem: 49

Source: PNC Bank.

Percentage of Americans who say they listen to music while cleaning, according to a survey commissioned by Jelmar: 80

Percentage who say music even makes their cleaning tasks more enjoyable: 66

Source: Jelmar.

Percentage of workers who say they have considered a major career move this year, according to an ADP Research Institute survey of more than 32,000 workers, including those in the gig economy, from 17 countries: 71

Percentage of working parents who would like to arrange working hours to be more flexible: 74

Percentage of non-parents who say the same: 68

Source: ADP.

Percentage of current U.S. college students who do not think colleges should require students attending in-person classes to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a survey by Intelligent.com: 15

Percentage of students opposed who say they will transfer to a different institution with no vaccine requirements if their current school mandates them: 20

Of those opposed to mandated vaccines, percentage who say such requirements violate an individual's freedom: 25

Source: Intelligent.com.

Percentage of mothers who say they get joy out of buying toys for their kids and that they would miss out on the excitement if they were to change the number of gifts they bought, according to a survey by Zulily: 43

Percentage of moms who are looking for gifts that promote creativity and togetherness: 27

Percentage of moms who say a toy's ability to promote their children's imagination without bounds is a characteristic of an iconic toy brand: 25

Source: Zulily.

Each year, estimated cost in property damage caused by termites, according to the National Pest Management Association: $6.8 billion

Percentage of American homeowners who follow prevention techniques when entering tick-infested areas (e.g., the woods or areas with tall grass): 47

Percentage who would switch to a different hotel or motel if they found bed bugs at the hotel or motel where they were staying: 59

Percentage of Americans who have seen or removed a tick from themselves, someone else or a pet: 63

Source: Vault Communications.

Idle Thought

Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law. -- Douglas Hofstadter, professor of cognitive science (1945- )

Ranks of "being in good health" (96%), "having a good work-life balance" (96%), "living in a location you like" (90%) and "having an interesting job" (87%) on the list of what teens consider to be an important part of "the good life": 1 (tie), 3, 4

Percentage of teens who said "having children" is an important part of having "the good life": 51

Source: Junior Achievement.

Percentage of U.S. retirees who say their age could be a barrier to getting a new job if they chose to enter the workforce, according to an American Staffing Association poll: 43

Percentage of retirees who would look for a job if they could have a flexible work schedule: 41

Percentage who would do so if they could work remote full time: 35

Source: American Staffing Association.

Percentage of Gen Z professionals who say they are more burned out than a year ago, with their age group the most likely to report a rise in burnout, according to a survey by Robert Half: 47

Percentage of technology workers who say they are more burned out than a year ago -- leading all employment sectors in reporting a rise in burnout: 44

Ranks of Boston, Charlotte, North Carolina, and San Diego as the cities most likely to report burnout: 1 (tie), 3

Source: Robert Half.

Median household income versus the income of the top 5% in Bridgeport, Connecticut, making it the metro area with the biggest income gap, according to a survey by MagnifyMoney at LendingTree: $97,539 vs. $883,321

Median household income in Miami versus that of the top 5%, the second biggest income gap in the country: $59,030 vs. $472,715

Source: LendingTree.

Rank of Michigan as the most affordable state for retirees, according to a survey by Bankrate: 1

Rank of Massachusetts as the best state for well-being: 1

Rank of Florida for culture and diversity: 1

Rank of Arizona as the No. 1 state for weather: 1

Source: Bankrate Inc.

Percentage of Americans who agree that it is socially acceptable to start celebrating Halloween before October, according to a Hershey survey: 60

Percentage of parents with children under 18 who say the same: 70

Source: The Hershey Co.

Percentage of Americans who say the Tooth Fairy gives their child something to be excited about, up from 53% last year, according to a poll released by Delta Dental: 55

Average cash gift per tooth, an all-time high in the 24-year history of the poll, and up from $4.70 last year: $5.56

Percentage of times that the Tooth Fairy leaves only money rather than some other physical gift: 80

Source: Delta Dental.

Percentage of internet-equipped households that watch NFL games throughout the season, making football the most widely watched sport in the U.S., according to Parks Associates: 68

Source: Parks Associates.

Percentage increase in the number of hybrid job (defined as a professional-level job that consists of some remote work and some in-office work) postings in its database between Sept. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022, compared to Sept. 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021, according to a survey by FlexJobs.com: 52

Ranks of accounting and finance, computer and IT, and marketing as the top career jobs for hybrid careers: 1, 2, 3

Source: FlexJobs.com.

Estimated number of Americans who are impacted by Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss for those over 50, according to survey data from Bausch and Lomb: 16 million

Percentage who are aware that being overweight/obese puts people at increased risk for being diagnosed with AMD: 25

Percentage who don't know that smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke can increase a person's risk of being diagnosed with AMD: 71

Source: Vault Communications.

Idle Thought

"To a poet, silence is an acceptable response, even a flattering one." -- Colette, author (1873-1954)