Percentage of workers younger than 65 who are retired (while 8% of workers younger than 65 are semi-retired), according to the results from a new MoneyRates.com survey: 21.6

Percentage of those who retired or semi-retired before age 65 who started saving for retirement by age 40: 66.9

Of respondents 65 or older, percentage who are still working full- or part-time: 16.2

Source: MoneyRates.com.

Of the 79% of small-business owners who suspended or reduced operations due to the pandemic, percentage who have since been able to completely resume operations, according to a survey by LendingTree: 13

Percentage who have been able to somewhat resume: 63

Percentage of small-business owners who said their gross revenue has decreased by 51% or more due to the pandemic: 43

Source: LendingTree.

Percentage of consumers who say the virus is impacting their Halloween celebration plans, with overall participation down to 58%, according to a National Retail Federation survey: 75

Projected consumer spending, down slightly from $8.78 billion in 2019, due to the drop in participation: $8.05 million

Source: NRF.

Percentage of businesses that have cut workers since the start of the pandemic, according to a PNC survey: almost 40

Of those, percentage who say the decrease is considered temporary or a furlough: 87

Percentage of the businesses who had temporary layoffs or furloughs who have begun rehiring: 58

Source: PNC Financial Services Group.

Percentage of registered drivers ages 25 and older across the country who said they are "very willing" to wear a mask in public, according to a survey by the National Safety Council and Truce Software: 76

Percentage who said they are "very willing" to obey a state law preventing cellphone use: 62

Percentage of drivers who said they would need to be involved in a near-miss -- and 59% said they would have to be involved in a fatal crash -- to be dissuaded from using technology while driving: 61

Source: National Safety Council.

This fall, percentage of students who traded their classrooms for their bedrooms to attend school virtually, according to research by Clutch: 62

Ranks of computers (27%), internet services (23%), webcams (21%) and microphones (16%) in place of pencils and notebooks this year on the list of added expenses these students face: 1, 2, 3, 4

Percentage of students who used educational learning apps in the past year to supplement their education and this will assume a larger role in education as online learning persists: 95

Source: Clutch.

Percentage of Americans who rate their own personal health insurance coverage as "excellent" or "good," according to the results of a healthinsurance.com survey: 64

Percentage of employed Americans who said they were reluctant to switch jobs and sacrifice their current health insurance: 38

Percentage who say they or close family or friends have lost their health insurance during the pandemic: 25

Source: healthinsurance.com.

Percentage of senior managers in the U.S. who said their organization has hired full-time or temporary staff remotely since the pandemic began, according to a survey by Robert Half: 53

Of managers who hired, percentage who conducted remote interviews and onboarding sessions: 75

Percentage who advertised fully remote jobs: 61

Source: Robert Half.

Percentage of women who are now considering leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers due to COVID-19, according to a report by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org: 25

Percentage of companies that now say more jobs can be performed remotely: 93

Percentage that predict a significant share of their employees will work remotely a year from now: 67

Percentage of employees who say they want to continue to work from home more often than they did before COVID-19: 77

Source: LeanIn.Org.

Percentage of Americans who have at least one smart home device, according to research by LendingTree: 65

Ranks of speakers, thermostats and lighting on the list of the most popular smart home devices: 1, 2, 3

Percentage of men who have a smart home device versus 49% of women: 82

Source: ValuePenguin.com.

Idle thought

"The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed." -- Steve Biko, anti-apartheid activist

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

Percentage of Americans who are spending 30 more minutes each day cooking in the kitchen compared to the same time last year, according to a survey conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Farm Rich: 30

Percentage who reach for comfort food to bring happiness: 41

Percentage who have gained a few pounds staying at home -- an extra six pounds on average: 85

Source: Farm Rich.

Percentage of American adults who have a least-favorite cleaning task, or "mess nemesis," according to a survey by Jelmar for CLR: 88

Percentage who have dodged their least-favorite cleaning task in one way or another, some leaving the task to a family member or housemate, or even to a completely different homeowner: 61

Percentage who have dodged their least-favorite cleaning task by moving to a new home: 4

Percentage who have ignored it: 25

Source: Jelmar.

Percentage of Americans who say it is not very likely or not at all likely they would get the first-generation COVID-19 vaccine, while 39% report that they would, according to an Ipsos poll: 60

Percentage who say they will wait a few months after (30%) or a year or more (18%) after a vaccine is available: 48

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Estimated number of U.S. adults who plan to participate in Halloween-related activities this year, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics: 148 million

Rank of safe at-home activities on the list of priorities for celebrating the occasion: 1

Percentage who plan to decorate their homes: 53

Percentage who plan to carve a pumpkin: 46

Percentage who will dress up their pet: 18

Source: NRF.

Number of Americans who traveled during the Labor Day weekend, the highest passenger volume since March -- with the busiest day of travel up 30% from the July 4th holiday weekend, as reported by the Transportation Security Administration: 3 million

Source: FINN Partners.

Amid this year's historic coronavirus pandemic, percentage of small- and mid-size business owners and executives who reported that they have made adaptations to their business in response to COVID-19, including safety changes (69%), such as new policies and procedures (62%) or physical modifications (57%), and/or adopted work-from-home policies (33%), according to a PNC survey: 79

Percentage of businesses who report increased use of technology since the outbreak began: 51

Source: PNC Financial Services Group.

Percentage of moms who say they're up late at night to care for their children, according to a survey by Zulily: 17

Percentage who stay awake planning the future: 16

Percentage of moms who say they feel judged by other parents for their parenting decisions: 38

Source: Zulily.

Percentage of the U.S. population who are aware of the importance of sun protection and state they use sun protection during sun exposure, according to a survey by ISIDIN: 50.3

Percentage of Americans who use sunscreen with the objective of preventing sun spots and wrinkles: 52

Percentage who use it because of the worry of developing skin cancer: 27

Source: ISIDIN.

Percentage of Americans who said their opinion of the U.S. health care system has changed for the worse in the face of COVID-19, according to the results of a healthinsurance.com survey: 33

Percentage who said their opinion changed for the better: 14

Percentage who said they're afraid of contracting the virus because of health care costs: 33

Source: healthinsurance.com.

Percentage of business leaders who feel positive about the role that AI will play in the future, with the No. 1 expectation being that it will make business processes more efficient, according to a report published by information hub the AI Journal: 72

Percentage who have suggested that AI will help to create new business models: 55

Source: AI Journal.

Idle Thought

"Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence." -- Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, judge and politician (1776-1865)

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

Percentage of moms who agree that celebrating Halloween this year will be a nice break from everything happening in the world, according to a survey by Zulily: 32

Percentage who agree that planning fun activities is good for their families -- but they’re doing so on a budget: 36

Source: Zulily.

Percentage of dating.com users who admitted they went through a breakup in the last year, a significant increase from last year's findings of only 34%, according to a survey by dating.com: 67

Of the 67% who said they have ended relationships in 2020, percentage who said they lived with their significant other, while only 18% said they weren't cohabiting: 49

Of those living with their ex-partner, percentage who revealed they realized living together caused many fights, which ended with separation: 25

Source: dating.com.

Percentage of Americans who are reverting to childhood food favorites and eating more comfort food during the pandemic (includes an uptick in such favorites as pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, French fries, mac and cheese, and spaghetti and meatballs), according to a survey conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Farm Rich: 66

Percentage who say they’ll continue to enjoy the same amount of comfort food post-pandemic: 69

Source: Farm Rich.

Percentage of parents living with children at home -- compared to adults without children at home (32%) -- who say they're spending more time outdoors with family and friends, according to research from Finn Partners: 50

Percentage of parents with kids 18 and under in the house who report feeling more connected to their social networks, compared to 28% of nonparents: 44

Source: Finn Partners.

Percentage of Americans who felt guilty asking for time off since they're working from home, according to a survey by ValuePenguin: 13

Percentage of consumers who had to put off a milestone trip such as an anniversary or graduation celebration because of the pandemic: 33

Source: ValuePenguin.com.

Percentage of U.S. adults who say their top financial priority over the past few months has been catching up or staying current on the bills (up from 38% last year), according to a new survey by Bankrate.com: 46

Ranks of saving more money, paying down debt and providing financial assistance to family members or friends on the list of top financial priorities: 2, 3, 4

Source: Bankrate.com.

Though the holiday season may still feel far off, percentage of holiday shoppers -- 46 million people -- who have already started or plan to start their holiday shopping by the end of September, according to CreditCards.com: 25

Source: CreditCards.com.

Percentage of Americans who acknowledge that COVID-19's impact has made them more likely to speak about money to loved ones, according to a survey by N26: 22

Percentage who don't think it's wise to travel abroad at the moment due to COVID-19, and would rather opt to stay close to home: 46

Source: N26.

Percentage of U.S. broadband households that feel safe enough with only a professionally monitored home security system, while 55% report feeling “safe enough” with only a self-monitored home security system, according to research from Parks Associates: 60

Percentage of security system owners who feel safe in their home today: 92

Source: Parks Associates.

Idle Thought

“Would the boy you were be proud of the man you are?” -- Laurence J. Peter, educator and author

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