Figuratively Speaking

Average number of gallons of coffee, in all its varieties and preparations, that each American drinks annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 23

Estimated number of coffee shops across the nation: 19,000

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Ranks of talking on cellphone while driving, speeding, texting and driving, and driving after consuming alcohol on the list of dangerous driving behaviors that parents actually admit to engaging in, according to data released from Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions): 1, 2, 3, 4

Percentage of teens who say their parents continue these unsafe habits behind the wheel even after their teens ask them to stop: 41

Source: Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Percentage of employed Americans who go to work even if they are feeling ill with flu-like symptoms, according to a survey from CVS: 67

Source: CVS.

Percentage of Americans who identify as labor union members, according to a Gallup poll: 10

Percentage of Americans who approve of labor unions, although approval remains on the low end of Gallup's nearly 80-year trend on this question: 53

Percentage who disapprove of unions: 38

Source: Gallup.

Of the 52 new entrants into Asia's billionaire club, number who are from China, according to Wealth-X: 33

Ranks of the United States (571 billionaires), China (190), the United Kingdom (130) and Germany (123) on the Top 40 Billionaire Countries/Territories list for 2014: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: Wealth-X.

Percentage of Americans who say they have never used an online dating site or mobile app, and do not know anyone who has used one, according to YouGov: 58

Percentage who say that they have never used one, but know someone who has: 21

Percentage who say they have used one: 15

Source: YouGov.

Percentage of Americans who support banning all flights to the United States from countries experiencing an Ebola outbreak, according to an NBC News poll conducted by SurveyMonkey: 58

Source: SurveyMonkey.

Ranks of high-quality TV, variety of TV content and ability to binge-watch on the list of reasons consumers agree we're in a second golden age of TV, according to the results of a survey by YuMe Inc., along with Instant.ly: 1, 2, 3

Percentage of consumers who consider watching three shows in a row "binge-watching": 24

Percentage who say it's four shows: 24

Source: uSamp.

When asked to identify the greatest challenges with executing a customer experience strategy, percentage of marketers who pointed to challenges with people, namely having the right talent and the right culture, according to research from SAP SE: 22

Percentage who said that it is a combination of the people, the processes, and the platforms needed to properly develop, manage, measure and continue delivery of the customer experience: 52

Source: SAP SE.

In the United States (the only high-income country that does not mandate paid family and medical leave), percentage of private-sector employees taking unpaid leave who incur debt as a result of their leave, according to a survey by the Center for Economic and Policy Research: 30

Percentage of respondents needing leave who had their leave needs unmet in the past 12 months: 25

Source: Center for Economic Policy Research.

Idle Thought

"Any life, no matter how long and complex it may be, is made up of a single moment -- the moment in which a man finds out, once and for all, who he is." -- Jorge Luis Borges, writer

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

Percentage of post-recession growth that has been captured by the richest 1 percent of Americans, according to an analysis of 2014's richest and poorest states by WalletHub: 95

Ranks of The District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts on the list of the country's richest states: 1 (tie), 3 (tie), 5

Ranks of Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina and New Mexico on the list of the country's poorest states: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: WalletHub.

When workers were asked how they would rate their boss's leadership skills, percentage who said they were very strong, according to a survey developed by OfficeTeam: 44

Percentage of workers who believe they couldn't do a better job than their manager: 67

Source: OfficeTeam.

Ranks of Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day on the list of the most popular holidays among 15- to 25-year-olds, according to a survey conducted by ooVoo: 1, 2, 3

Source: ooVoo LLC.

Number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) in the U.S. where one could possibly enjoy a horrorfest this Halloween, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 4,540

Ranks of California, Texas, New York and Florida on the list of states that have the most movie theaters: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Percentage of Americans who said they are most likely to have a "hangry attack" (the feeling that comes from having hunger to the point of being angry) at work, according to a Jack Link's commissioned survey: 43.1

Percentage who said midafternoon is the time it is most likely to strike: 34.8

Source: jacklinks.com.

Though a majority of Class of 2014 college graduates are currently working, percentage of that group who are in jobs that don't require a degree (includes 45 percent of four-year degree graduates and 57 percent of associate degree graduates), according to a CareerBuilder survey: 51

Percentage of 2014 college graduates who are in full-time, permanent positions (49 percent, four-year; 25 percent, associate): 36

Source: CareerBuilder.com.

Percentage of CFOs who said they contend with at least one unexpected crisis a week, according to an Accountemps survey: 36

Source: Accountemps.

Percentage of American moms who say they are at least "somewhat" stressed, according to a survey of moms ages 18 years of age and older conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Clinton Foundation: 67

Percentage of single moms who are likely to report that they are at least "somewhat" stressed, compared to 64 percent for moms who are married/cohabiting: 78

Percentage of moms with a household income below $50,000 who report being at least "somewhat" stressed, compared to 63 percent for moms with a household income of $50,000 or over: 73

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of women executives from across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific who have participated in sports, according to research released by the EY Women Athletes Business Network and espnW: 94

Percentage of these women who agree that a background in sports can help accelerate a woman's leadership and career potential: 74

Source: Ernst & Young.

Among U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers and frontline travel agents who book luxury travel, percentage who stated that luxury hotel bookings have "increased or remained steady" compared to 2013, according to a survey by Travel Leaders Group: 90

Source: Travel Leaders.

Idle Thought

"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within." -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, psychiatrist and author (1926-2004)

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

Percentage of Americans who reported they would feel completely relaxed if they were entirely "off the grid" (without any electronics or Internet access), according to results from a survey by Princess Cruises: 67

Percentage who say that having a smartphone makes it harder to relax: 52

Percentage of Americans who choose music to help decompress: 40

Source: Princess Cruises.

Percentage of college students between the ages of 18 and 23 who said they usually do not go more than 10 minutes without using some form of technology during an average school day, according to the results of an annual survey by Vital Source Technologies Inc.: 45

Source: Vital Source Technologies Inc.

Ranks of values, emotional support, discipline and income on the list of what Americans say is "extremely important" for a father to provide, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center: 1, 2, 3, 4

When Americans were asked the same question about the role of mothers, ranks of values, emotional support, discipline and income: 1 (tie), 3, 4

Source: Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends.

Percentage of Americans who think that it's easier to meet someone online than at a public place, according to a survey by YouGov: 52

Percentage of Americans who believe that it is acceptable for people of all ages to use online dating sites or apps: 44

Percentage who believe that relationships formed through online dating sites are just as likely to succeed as relationships formed elsewhere: 36

Source: YouGov.

Percentage of marketing professionals who said they spend three to four hours a day on email, according to the results of a study that looks at a day in the life of a marketer by AtTask: 34

Percentage of marketers who said they frequently multitask in meetings: 41

Of those, percentage who also said they do so reluctantly: 43

Source: AtTask.

Estimated number of Americans who are aged 100 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 53,000

Of those, percentage who are women: 83

Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Number of "social media assets" (Twitter handles, employee blogs, etc.) owned by the average mid-size or large-size company (1,000 employees or more), according to Marketingeasy: 178

Percentage of companies that offer social business training to their employees: 25

Source: Marketingeasy.

Number of times more likely that children of parents who have used marijuana are to use it themselves, according to a nationwide survey of youth ages 18 to 25 commissioned by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Center for Public Advocacy: 3

Among children who reported their parents had used or currently use marijuana, percentage who indicated they also have used marijuana: 72

Percentage of children whose parents have never used marijuana who reported having used marijuana themselves: 19.7

Source: Hazelden.

Percentage of Americans who have not saved any money for retirement, according to a Bankrate.com report: 36

Percentage of 18- to 29-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 69

Percentage of 30- to 49-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 33

Percentage of 50- to 64-year-olds who haven't saved anything for retirement: 26

Source: Bankrate Inc.

Percentage of Americans who indicated they were paid via direct deposit, according to results from the 2014 Getting Paid In America survey, conducted by the American Payroll Association: 96

Source: American Payroll Association.

Idle Thought

"One is happy as a result of one's own efforts once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness: simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self denial to a point, love of work, and above all, a clear conscience." -- George Sand, novelist, 1804-1876

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