Figuratively Speaking

Percentage of the very, very rich (those with a net worth of at least $30 million) who project their spending through the end of 2008 to be on par with or greater than last year, according to Elite Traveler/Prince and Associates research: 70

Percentage of these super-rich consumers who plan to spend an average of $108,100 on jewelry and watches before the end of 2008: 96.4

Percentage of the super-rich who plan to spend an average of $77,300 on apparel and accessories before 2008 ends: 97.6

Percentage who plan to spend an average of $23,400 on the personal consumption of wines and spirits: 94

Source: Elite Traveler.

Percentage of Americans ages 19 to 39 -- members of the so-called generations X and Y -- who said they were very knowledgeable about how to use an iPod, according to survey by Employee Benefit Research Institute: 40

Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about eliminating or avoiding debt: 32

Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about buying a home: 21

Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about how to invest their money outside of the workplace: 15

Source: EBRI.

Estimated buying power of the burgeoning Asian-American market, which offers the most lucrative opportunities in the multicultural consumer market, according to research by Packaged Facts: $600 billion

Percentage of Asian-American households that have an income of at least $100,000: 36

Percentage of American families as a whole that have an income of at least $100,000: 25

Source: Packaged Facts.

Amount American consumers are expected to spend on Halloween this year, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch: $5.77 billion

Amount the average person will spend on costumes: $24.17

Amount the average person will spend on sweets: $20.39

Source: BIGresearch.

Percentage of American workers who would call their boss a "friend" -- more than any other categorization, according to the Adecco USA "Workplace Insights" survey: 29

Percentage who would call him/her a mentor: 21

Percentage who view him/her as a confidant: 6

Source: MWW Group.

Percentage of U.S. energy that is swallowed by buildings, though most Americans believe transportation and industry are the largest offenders, according to the U.S. Department of Energy: 40

Percentage of Americans who correctly identified buildings as the major energy culprit, according to a survey conducted by Owens Corning: 27

Ranks of buildings, industry and transportation as the primary users of energy: 1, 2, 3

Source: Owens Corning.

Percentage of administrative professionals who said having a bad boss would be the most important factor in a decision to leave their job, according to a survey conducted by the International Association of Administrative Professionals: 45

Percentage who indicated they would leave their job because of poor pay: 4

Percentage who would leave because of poor benefits: 2

Source: IAAP.

Percentage of American workers who are happy on the job, up slightly from last year's 61 percent, according to SnagAJob.com's "Labor Happiness" survey: 65

When workers were asked the No. 1 issue facing the nation, percentage who cited the economy: 57

Source: SnagAJob.com.

Ranks of The Joker, Batman and Iron Man/Tony Stark on the list of the top three Halloween costumes for men, based on movies released in 2008, according to a survey by Fandango: 1, 2, 3

Ranks of "The House Bunny" (Anna Faris), Fox (Angelina Jolie) from the movie "Wanted" and Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) on the list of the top three Halloween costumes for women: 1, 2, 3

Source: Fandango.

Estimated annual economic losses in marine fisheries resulting from poor management, inefficiencies and overfishing, according to a World Bank-FAO report: $50 billion

Taken over the last three decades, estimated total losses, a figure roughly equivalent to the GDP of Italy: $2 trillion

Estimated number of people whose livelihoods depend on the fisheries: 200 million

Percentage of these people who live in developing countries: 90

Source: FAO.

Idle Thought

"It is also a victory to know when to retreat." -- Erno Paasilinna, essayist

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

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

Percentage of organizations that offer cell phones to executives as a perk, according to the Executive Compensation 2008/2009 survey conducted by Compdata Surveys: 60.2

Percentage of companies that provide laptops or home PCs: 43.8

Source: Compdata Surveys.

Percentage of people who said they manage the stress of tough times by spending more hours with loved ones and on leisure pursuits, according to the Dice Report, the leading career Web site for technology and engineering professionals: 84

Percentage who are taking more time with friends, family or on hobbies: 21

Percentage who are either running, walking or riding: 26

Percentage who are turning their Blackberries off and their Tivos on: 7

Source: Dice Report.

Percentage of Americans who have a "loving and joyful" marriage, according to the findings of a national survey commissioned by Parade: 50

Percentage who admitted they remain married either because of financial reasons or because "it's too much trouble to get out": 30

Source: Parade Magazine.

Percentage of renters who have always rented, according to a national survey conducted by Apartments.com: 70

Percentage who have been renting for 10 or more years: 37

Percentage of renters who live alone: 35

Source: Apartments.com.

Average amount of life insurance coverage on insured husbands, according to a survey commissioned by Heritage Union: $235,600

When asked how much life insurance they thought was enough, percentage of respondents who said they would need between $400,000 and $1 million: 23

Percentage who thought that $11,001 to $100,000 would be sufficient: 22

Source: Heritage Union.

Percentage of Americans who rate now as a bad time to find a quality job, according to a Gallup study: 82

Percentage who felt this way in October 2007: 56

Source: Gallup.

Percentage of Americans who say they believe in ghosts, according to a survey conducted by AP-Ipsos: 34

Percentage of Americans who say they believe in spells or witchcraft: 19

Percentage of Americans who say they have woke up from sleep with a sense of strange presence in the room: 30

Source: The Associated Press and Ipsos.

Percentage of leaders who think retaining key employees is even more important during an economic downturn than it is in a robust economy, according to a study by Personnel Decisions International: 93

Percentage of companies that maintain a list of key employees who they need to retain: 68

Source: PDI.

Percentage of small business owners who said that they see developing new business as their No. 1 challenge through the remainder of the year, according to the results of a survey conducted for ING Direct's ShareBuilder 401(k): 57

Percentage who cited "access to cash" as the second greatest challenge they face: 18

Percentage who are raiding retirement accounts for cash: 16

Source: ING Direct's Sharebuilder 401(k).

In 1998, estimated number of people ("Cyberchondriacs") who went online for health care information at least once, according to a Harris poll: 54 million

Number of people who did so in 2007: 160 million

Average number of times per month cyberchondriacs look for health care information: 4.8

Source: Harris Interactive.

Idle Thought

People of small caliber like to sit on high horses." -- Magdalena Samozwaniec, writer

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

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

Percentage of Americans who said they are more stressed this year than last year, according to a survey by the American Massage Therapy Association: 59

Percentage who cited the economy as a major source of stress: 45

Source: American Massage Therapy Association.

Percentage of employees who said the level of office politics in their workplaces has increased compared to five years ago, according to a survey developed by Accountemps: 53

Percentage who say it's wise to be aware of political undercurrents in the office without becoming directly involved: 54

Percentage who say it's best to stay out of office politics completely: 29

Source: Accountemps.

Percentage of employees who are paid by either direct deposit or pay card, according to a survey conducted by the American Payroll Association: 90

Of those paid by direct deposit or pay card, percentage of respondents who said they would rather view their pay online than receive a paper stub: 62

Source: American Payroll Association.

Percentage of Americans who said a kiss is the best way to lift their spirits after a bad day, according to findings of a nationwide study conducted by cultural anthropologist and author of "The Art of Kissing" William Cane in collaboration with NIVEA Lip Care: 45

Source: Beiersdorf.

Percentage of employees who agreed that "my boss looks out for me and my career goals," according to research from Adecco USA in its first Annual Employer Report Card: 65

Percentage who agreed that "my boss deserves his/her level of compensation": 77

Percentage who said "I believe that my boss is smarter than me": 64

Source: Adecco.

Date described as Earth Overshoot Day, the day that humanity will have used up all the new resources nature will provide this year, according to data from Global Footprint Network: Sept. 23, 2008

Globally, number of planets whose biological capacity we are now using: 1.4

Based on moderate U.N. business-as-usual projections, number of planets we'll be demanding to support us by 2050: 2

Source: Global Footprint Network.

Percentage of consumers who felt that good consumer ratings were quite important to an initial purchase decision, according to research into consumer views about online shopping compiled by PriceRunner.co.uk: 70

Percentage of consumers who said price had some importance to their product choice: 96

Percentage who felt it was the most important factor: 64

Source: PriceRunner.co.uk.

Percentage of baby boomers who say they will work after retirement, according to the Merrill Lynch New Retirement Study: 71

Estimated number of people ages 44 to 70 who have encore careers, according to the MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures, a national think tank: 5.3 million

Percentage of men and women who said their reason for retiring was to do other things, according to The Cornell Retirement and Well-Being Study: 69.5

Source: Life Options Institute.

Percentage of high-net-worth business owners, whose companies have at least $10 million in annual revenue, who have incorporated philanthropic giving into their financial plan, according to a SunTrust Bank Private Wealth Management study: 36

Among them, percentage who have written non-profit organizations into their will: 53

Source: SunTrust Banks Inc.

Idle Thought

"One does not advance the swimming abilities of ducks by throwing the eggs in the water." -- Multatuli (pen name of Eduard Douwes Dekker)

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

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600