Figuratively Speaking

Percentage of workers who reported having the "Sunday Scaries" -- anxiety felt the night before the start of the workweek, according to a survey conducted by Accountemps, a Robert Half company: 39

Percentage of senior managers who believe their teams are experiencing some degree of burnout: 96

Percentage of workers who said they are at least somewhat burned out: 91

Source: Robert Half.

By the end of 2019, estimated number U.S. households that will have acquired a new dog during the year, according to a report by Packaged Facts: 7 million

Number of U.S. households that will have acquired a new cat over the same period of time: 5 million

Percentage of new dogs that are adopted from pet shelters or rescue sources: 34

Percentage of cats that are adopted from pet shelters or rescue sources: 30

Source: Packaged Facts.

Amount of money generated in spending for goods and services in 2018 by commercial and consumer credit, debit and prepaid cards issued in the U.S., according to the Nilson Report: $6.130 trillion

Commercial card spending: $1.393 trillion

Consumer card spending: $4.737 trillion

Visa's percentage share of all commercial card spending vs. American Express, Mastercard and Discover: 43.15

Source: The Nilson Report.

Percentage of respondents who identified as baby boomers who plan to depend on Social Security as their primary source of retirement income, compared to only 20% of millennials, according to a survey of millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers conducted for the American Advisors Group: 49

Percentage of millennial respondents who plan on using their personal savings as their primary source of retirement funding: 23

Source: American Advisors Group.

Percentage of Americans who grill at tailgating activities for sporting events, according to a consumer survey by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association: 11

Ranks of flavor, lifestyle, entertainment, convenience and health on the list of reasons why people grill: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.

Ranks of washing the car, gardening, cleaning windows and vacuuming on the list of the most lucrative chores kids perform to earn their allowance money, according to a study by RoosterMoney: 1, 2, 3, 4

Ranks of phones, LEGO sets, Nintendo Switch and dolls/figures on the list of the top 10 things kids are saving toward: 1, 2, 3, 4

Source: RoosterMoney.

Percentage of vacation homeowners who use their vacation home once a year or less, according to a survey by Lending Tree: 37

Percentage who don't rent out their additional home at all: 41

Of those who decided to sell their additional home, percentage who said they did so primarily because they didn't use it often: 31

Percentage of vacation homeowners who report they vacationed in the area for one to three years before buying their home: 36

Source: Lending Tree.

Percentage of restaurant-goers who said they are likely to visit a restaurant's website before they dine in or order takeout or delivery, according to the results of a survey by MGH: 77

Of that group, percentage who have been discouraged from visiting a restaurant because of its website: 68

Percentage of respondents who said "not caring for the menu" was the main reason they were discouraged from visiting the restaurant: 65

Source: MGH.

Percentage of global consumers who would use a form of transportation with a lower carbon footprint than air travel even if it were less convenient or more expensive, according to a study conducted in 27 countries on behalf of the World Economic Forum: 14

Percentage who would do so if it were as convenient or no more expensive than flying: 29

Source: World Economic Forum.

Idle Thought

"The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas." -- Linus Pauling, chemist, peace activist

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

Percentage of newlyweds who went into wedding debt who say money caused them to contemplate divorce, compared to just 9% of couples who did not go into debt for their wedding, according to a study by Lending Tree: 47

Percentage of newlyweds who wish they spent less on their wedding -- with their biggest regrets being too much spent on food and drink or the venue: 25

Source: Lending Tree.

Percentage of "Tooth Fairies" who indicate that the amount of money they pay for a lost tooth depends on how much cash they have on hand, according to a poll sponsored by Delta Dental: 31

Percentage of Tooth Fairies who are mindful of kids' recent behaviors: 20

Average cash gift for a lost tooth, down from $4.13 a year ago: $3.70

In homes the Tooth Fairy visits, percentage of parents who share that their children receive at least $5 or more: 37

Source: Delta Dental Plans Association.

Percentage of women who feel they do not have the same opportunities as men to show their worth in their workplace, according to a University of Phoenix survey: 25

Percentage of employed adults who believe that men and women have equal pay opportunities at their workplace: 73

Percentage of women who believe that they are not paid fairly: 32

When asked if they had equal opportunity to show their worth in the workplace, percentage of men who believed that they do: 82

Percentage of women who believed they have equal opportunity to show their worth: 72

Source: University of Phoenix.

According to Experian Automotive, average age of passenger vehicles on the road today: 11.61 years

Source: Experian Automotive.

Favorite "age in life" chosen by millennials, according to a survey by Farm Rich: 23

Age chosen by baby boomers: 32

Age at which respondents to the survey consider that men officially become adults: 26

Age they consider that women officially become adults: 23

Source: Farm Rich.

Percentage of retirement plan sponsors who believe market risk is the most important factor in target-date investments, according to research by American Century Investments: 40

Percentage of American workers who are much more worried about running out of money in retirement: 41

Percentage of employees who have at least a "little regret" about not doing a better job saving for retirement, while 20 percent express a "great deal" of regret: 85

Percentage who agreed that their workplace retirement savings plan is one of the most important benefits their employer offers: 90

Source: American Century Services Corp.

Percentage of Americans who love their car a lot, according to a Cars.com survey: 73

Percentage who admit they would rather take their car to the car wash than book themselves a haircut: 57

Percentage of Americans who would not allow their vehicle to be used for ride-sharing: 68

Percentage who wouldn't even loan their car to a friend or family member: 37

Source: Cars.com.

Percentage of employees who most enjoy learning new skills during work hours and at the office, according to a survey by Clutch: 46

Percentage who say they prefer learning new skills at in-person events: 57

Percentage of workers who believe the primary responsibility for employee development lies with direct managers and a company's leadership team: 66

Source: Clutch.

Percentage of managers who fail to have regular development conversations with their teams, according to a study by Lending Tree: 63

Percentage of managers and employees who do not perceive their performance management process as valuable: 59

While 39% of senior leaders responded that "in my company, employees do not feel overworked," percentage of managers who agreed: 22

Source: Betterworks.

Percentage of women who rate parental leave No. 2 on the list of top perks they expect, according to an employee engagement survey by GoodFirms: 79

Percentage of men who rate parental leave No. 4 on their list of top perks: 71

Source: GoodFirms.

Percentage of professionals who feel well-informed about what they should be making in their current position, according to research from Robert Half: 82

Percentage who say they've checked their salary against market rates through online resources, salary guides or job postings in the last year: 73

Source: Robert Half.

Idle Thought

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." -- Albert Einstein

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

Percentage of Americans who would give up a portion of their paycheck for unlimited vacation, with millennials (41%) even more likely to do so, according to a survey released by Allianz Global Assistance: 34

Percentage of Americans who already have unlimited vacation: 12

Of those who would forfeit a portion of their salary for unlimited time off, average percentage they would be willing to give up (with millennials willing to forgo 32%): 26

Source: Allianz Global Assistance.

Percentage of all drivers who admitted to dangerous driving behaviors within the past year, according to a ValuePenguin.com survey: 90

Percentage of car crashes that are caused by human error and dangerous driving behaviors, such as eating, talking on the phone or changing the music: 94

Percentage of respondents who admitted to talking on the phone: 58

Percentage who admitted to reading texts: 27

Percentage who admitted to sending texts: 24

Source: ValuePenguin.com.

Percentage of Americans who have faked excuses to get out of plans, according to a Harris Poll commissioned by Sling TV: 47

Percentage of individuals engaging in this behavior who wanted to relax at home and chose to watch or binge television shows or movies instead: 76

Percentage of excuse makers who said they felt guilty: 42

Source: Sling TV LLC.

When looking to relax and unwind after a long day, percentage of Americans who say chilling out at home and watching/streaming TV is part of their de-stress routine, according to a survey by Tranquility: 62

Ranks of listening to music, enjoying a nice meal, reading, interacting with social media or playing on their phones on the list of de-stressing options: 2, 3, 4, 5

Source: Tranquility.

In the past year, percentage of Hotwire survey respondents between the ages of 23 and 38 who have booked spontaneous two- to three-night "quickies" one week or less out from their departure day, with 40% say they have booked the same day: 84

Percentage of "quickie trippers" who felt an emotional benefit from their travel: 95

Percentage who felt reduced stress at work: 43

Percentage who said the travel strengthened their bond with their partner: 41

Source: Hotwire.

Percentage of U.S. adults who haven't spoken to anyone about financial planning, according to a Northwestern Mutual study: 30

While 64% of Americans agree there are likely to be more financial crises in the future, percentage who say their retirement/financial plan has not been created to endure ups and downs in the market: 20

Percentage who report they don't have clarity on how much they can afford to spend now vs. how much they should be saving for later: 48

Source: Northwestern Mutual.

Percentage of kids who feel closer and more connected to their family vs. their friends, according to research from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews: 49

Source: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc.

Percentage of working Americans who say little white lies about Wi-Fi are acceptable in order to avoid checking into the office while on vacation, according to a survey released by Allianz Global Assistance: 49

Percentage of workers who are affected by "email creep," referring to when work obligations encroach on personal time: 65

Percentage of all working Americans who make a point not to go on vacation in places where poor cell reception or Wi-Fi access could disrupt their connection to the office: 24

Source: Allianz Global Assistance USA.

Percentage of adults with current K-12 children who who say their children complete homework faster when workspaces are clean, according to research from Clorox: 50

Percentage who say their children are more productive: 83

Percentage who say they are less stressed: 77

Source: Clorox Co.

Percentage of American workers who think that their co-workers could behave better in the workplace and that it is impacting productivity and morale, according to a Kelton Global study on behalf of National Business Furniture: 77

Percentage of respondents who say that consistently being late to work or meetings tops the list of workplace annoyances: 75

Percentage of workers who said playing loud music is unacceptable: 74

Percentage who believe that having smartphone ringers on for calls, notifications or alerts is annoying: 57

Source: National Business Furniture.

Percentage of people across 28 countries who said it is the responsibility of the companies that produce packaged goods to reduce unnecessary packaging, according to an Ipsos survey: 20

Percentage who said dealing with the amount of waste we generate is one of the top three environmental issues facing their country -- after global warming and air pollution: 34

Ranks of Colombia (70%), South Africa (69%), Mexico (63%), Argentina, Brazil and Peru (58%) on the list of countries where most are willing to buy recycled products: 1, 2, 3, 4 (tie)

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Idle Thought

"There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything; both ways save us from thinking." -- Theodore Rubin, psychiatrist and writer

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