Percentage of extremely wealthy households ($30 million or more) in the United States -- who hold $39 trillion in wealth, which represents 30% of all the wealth held by everyone in the country, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy: 0.25

Amount that a nationwide tax of 2% on wealth over $30 million could have raised this year, affecting just 1 in 400 households: $415 billion

Percentage of this wealth that is held by white, non-Hispanic households: 92

Source: Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Percentage of Gen Z members (13- to 25-year-olds) who wish their parents would ask permission before posting pics of them online (only 34% of parents actually do so -- and 39% feel they don't need permission), according to a 1Password and Malwarebytes report: 73

Percentage of parents who post images, videos or personal information about their kids online: 79

Percentage who say it's fine to start posting images of their kids as soon as they're born: 39

Percentage of Gen Z who say they've been stalked or bullied because of something they or their parents posted online: 10

Source: 1Password.

Percentage of retirees who say they spend less than $2,000 each month, according to a survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute: 49

Percentage who spend between $2,000 and $3,999: 32

Percentage who spend between: $4,000 and 6,999: 16

Percentage who spend more than $7,000 a month: 3

Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Amount that Americans will spend on Halloween costumes for their pets this year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation: $710 million

Ranks of a pumpkin, a hot dog, a bat and a bumblebee as the most popular costumes for pet lovers: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: NRF.

Percentage of employees who say they are either somewhat or completely uncomfortable telling their direct managers that they want to explore other job options outside of their current role, according to a survey by Eagle Hill Consulting: 20

Percentage who feel there would be negative repercussions if they openly explored other job options: 35

Percentage of younger workers (ages 18 to 34) who are most likely to feel this way: 42

Source: Eagle Hill Consulting.

Percentage of Americans who say inflation hasn't just hurt their pocketbooks, it's now hurting their health, making it harder to pay medical bills, according to a Debt.com poll: 57

Percentage of adults who have had their medical bills sent to collections: 25

Percentage who say they have avoided medical care as a result of what they already owe: 28

Source: Debt.com.

Rank of having the person in front of them escalate the situation, getting managers involved in their returns, and having to travel to the store on the list of the most hated parts of in-person returns, according to a survey commissioned by Slickdeals: 1, 2 (tie)

Percentage of people who think returning items online is more difficult: 29

Ranks of paying for shipping, having the item lost or not arrive at its destination, and traveling to the post office on the list of the most hated parts of online returns: 1, 2, 3

Percentage of consumers who have changed their shopping habits so they don't have to deal with the return process at all: 52

Source: Slickdeals.

Percentage of Americans who plan to celebrate this holiday season and are looking forward to time around the table with family, according to survey commissioned by Omaha Steaks: 71

Despite the impact of inflation on food prices, percentage who agree that for holiday entertaining, quality is more important than low prices when it comes to buying meal ingredients: 77

Percentage who say they would not sacrifice on hosting family and friends during the holidays: 31

Source: Omaha Steaks.

Among educators who use technology as part of their teaching practice, percentage who report that they are more aware of their students' individual needs, according to a survey by Gradient Learning: 61

Number of times as likely that teachers using technology are to report that they spend more one-on-one time with their students: 2

Percentage who said the effective use of technology within learning was important for students' future success: 70

Source: Gradient Learning.

Idle Thought

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus." -- Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922)

Percentage of people who say they're more inclined to spend money on quality items than on something that's cheaper both in price and quality, according to research by Slickdeals: 60� Percentage who have been burned by buying the cheap version of a product: 63� Number of times more than the sticker price that the average American is willing to pay for products that last at least 20 years: 2

Source: Slickdeals.

Rank of Spider-Man (2.2 million), princess (1.9 million), witch (1.6 million) and ghost (1.3 million) as the most popular costumes for children, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation: 1, 2, 3, 4

Rank of witch, vampire, ghost and pirate as the most popular costumes for adults: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: National Retail Federation.

Percentage of U.S. adults who have eaten expired food, according to a survey sponsored by Farm Rich: 27� Percentage of parents who admitted to chowing down on their kids' snacks to help ease their hunger pangs: 39� Percentage of parents who are willing to let their kids eat whatever they want if it will stop them from having a hangry tantrum: 68� Source: Farm Rich.

Percentage of employers that have added new perks in response to the challenging hiring market, according to a survey from Robert Half: 83� Percentage that have added remote work opportunities: 40� Percentage that have offered mental health resources: 36� Percentage that have offered wellness programs: 33

Source: Robert Half.

Percentage of Americans who say the way the president is elected should be changed so that the winner of the popular vote nationwide wins the presidency, according to a survey by Pew Research: 63� Percentage who said so in 2021: 55� Source: Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends.

Average number of connected devices there are in U.S. internet-connected households, according to Parks Associates research: 16� Percentage of these households that experienced at least one technical problem last year: 52� Percentage of consumers who prefer to handle technical support issues over the phone: 63� Source: Parks Associates.

Percentage of Americans who say they would not install an app that collects driving behavior or location data for any insurance discount amount, according to a survey from Policygenius: 68� Percentage who believe no discount is worth installing a smart home device, like a doorbell camera, water sensor or smart thermostat, if these devices shared data with their insurance companies: 65� Source: Policygenius.

Percentage of adults who say they frequently use earbuds for more than one hour per day, the recommended time limit by The World Health Organization, according to a survey commissioned by Lipo-Flavonoid: 31� Percentage of adults who are aware that using earbuds at unsafe levels is damaging: 22� Percentage who enjoy their music most when it's played at a higher volume (that percentage increases to 30% among adults ages 18-34): 21� Percentage of Americans who don't care if their earbud volume is higher than what's considered healthy (that percentage jumps to 49% among those ages 18-34): 32

Source: The Harris Poll.

Percentage of decision-making moms who consider Halloween a season, and nearly half agree it begins October 1, according to a survey by Party City: 80� Number of times people say their child will wear their Halloween costume: 2 to 5� Source: Party City.

Percentage of Americans who plan to travel this holiday season, according to findings in "OOH Consumer Insights & Opportunities Q4 2022: Holiday Travel & Shopping": 59� Percentage who will be taking a personal vehicle: 64� Source: The Harris Poll.

Idle Thought

"Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art." -- Frederic Chopin, pianist and composer (1810-1849)

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)