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)