Figuratively Speaking

Amount that Americans plan to spend on 4th of July food, according to research by WalletHub: $7.7 billion

Number of hot dogs eaten each 4th of July: 150 million

Amount that Americans plan to spend on 4th of July beer and wine: $1.4 billion plus

Amount projected to be spent on fireworks: $2.4 billion

Source: WalletHub.

Percentage of Americans who feel like they may miss legitimate calls because they suspect they are spam and do not answer, according to research by Truecaller: 63

After being scammed, percentage of victims who reported that they had downloaded a spam blocker and/or caller ID app to further protect themselves: 43

Percentage of Americans who said they try to answer calls only if they can identify the person or business that is calling: 86

Source: Truecaller.

Percentage of Americans who are looking to take quick getaways this summer, favoring a "microcation" versus the traditional week-long vacation, according to a survey from Allianz Partners USA: 53

Percentage who will travel away from home between now and September for at least one night: 71

Percentage who are planning multiple trips away from home this summer (up from 34% last year): 39

Source: Allianz Global Assistance USA.

Percentage of Americans who need side job income to pay for living expenses, up from 31% in 2019, according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 41

Percentage of respondents who have increased working hours due to rising prices: 33 plus

Average monthly income for a side gig in 2022: $996

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of hybrid office workers who say they use a personal technology device for work, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Fusion Connect: 50

Percentage of hybrid workers who feel they work more hours than peers doing the same job who are not hybrid: 34

Source: Fusion Connect.

Percentage of U.S. consumers who say their standard of living is declining, according to a poll by The Harris Poll: 56

Percentage of people are taking financial action to prepare: 73

Percentage who are battening down the hatches by paying off debt more aggressively than they otherwise would: 56

Percentage who are socking away more in short term savings: 58

Source: The Harris Poll.

Percentage of this year's college graduates who report that circumstances caused by COVID-19 have increased the importance of work-life balance for them, according to a survey from BestColleges.com: 69

Percentage of graduates who say work-life balance is important to them and of those, most believe a flexible work schedule (54%) and health insurance coverage (53%) are necessary employment-related factors for achieving it: 89

Source: BestColleges.com.

Percentage of Americans who support forgiving up to $10,000 in federal student loans, according to an NPR/Ipsos poll among American adults: 55

Percentage who support forgiving up to $50,000 in student loans: 47

Percentage who support forgiving all student loan debt: 41

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of Americans who say they aren't exposed to the recommended levels of bright light, an important factor in ensuring a sound sleep, according to the 2022 Sleep in America Poll: 50

Percentage who fall short of CDC's recommendations for moderate or vigorous activity, another key factor in ensuring a sound sleep: 33

Percentage of Americans who eat meals at inconsistent times, making it more difficult for their bodies to regulate the sleep/wake process: 40

Source: National Sleep Foundation.

Percentage of Americans who know that a group of women called "ale wives" were the unsung heroes who brought beer to America, according to research from Miller Light: 3

Year the word "alewife" was first recorded in England to mean "a woman that keeps an ale-house," synonymous with the word "brewester" (Oxford English Dictionary, compact edition, 1971): 1393

Year that Mary Lisle began and successfully ran a Philadelphia brewery, becoming the first American woman to own and operate one: 1734

Source: Pink Boots Society.

Idle Thought

"Contentment is, after all, simply refined indolence." -- Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, judge and politician (1796-1865)

Percentage of Americans who say they always tip, according to a survey by Bankrate.com: 66

Percentage of Americans who say they always tip at a sit-down restaurant: 73� Percentage who always tip food delivery people: 57� Percentage who always tip a taxi/rideshare driver: 43� Percentage who always tip when picking up takeout food: 13

Source: Bankrate.com.

Rank of broccoli, corn, carrots, potatoes and asparagus on the list of America's favorite vegetables, according to a survey by Green Giant: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5� Number of states that chose broccoli as their favorite: 29� Percentage of the states that swapped their favorite vegetable pick in 2022 -- including Iowa -- which no longer chose corn as the favorite, but instead selected broccoli this year: 54

Source: Green Giant.

Percentage of American adults who say their mental health is excellent or good, compared to 26% who rate their mental health as fair or poor, according to the American Psychiatric Association: 72� Rank of spending time outdoors, taking a vacation, and longer amounts of daylight on the list of ways that the summer would have a positive impact on their mental health: 1, 2, 3� Rank of hot weather and wearing clothes that show more of their body on the list of negative impacts summer could have on their mental health: 25

Source: American Psychiatric Association.

Average percentage of the transaction amount charged by Visa and Mastercard's U.S. credit card swipe fees, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition: 2.22� Rank of swipe fees, after labor costs, on the list of most merchants' highest operating costs: 2� Source: Merchants Payments Coalition.

Percentage of Americans who say they are not prepared for a financial emergency, according to WalletHub's 2022 financial health survey: 30� Percentage who say they are not on track for retirement: 53

Source: WalletHub.

Percentage of people who admit disliking up to 15 items they've purchased online, according to a survey commissioned by Slickdeals: 73� Rank of stowing away their unfortunate online buys somewhere out of sight, gifting these items to someone they know, and returning/exchanging them (39%) on the list of ways shoppers admitted to dealing with these buys: 1, 2, 3

Source: Slickdeals.

Percentage of men who say they're OK with a "dad bod" -- the characteristic paunchy physique that men can develop with age and that women reportedly desire, according to the a national study by MDVIP: 55� Percentage of men who failed a Men's Health IQ quiz that tested their knowledge on the common health issues that afflict men: 94

Source: MDVIP Media Relations.

Percentage of people in the U.S. and an average of 78% across 28 countries who agree in principle that people should be able to take refuge in other countries, including their own, to escape war or persecution, according to research by Ipsos: 82� Percentage in the U.S. and 16% on average globally who disagree: 10� Number of people who are now forcibly displaced around the world, according to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in light of the Ukraine crisis, which is the fastest displacement crisis in recent times: 100 million-plus

Source: Ipsos Public Affairs.

Percentage of American voters who oppose taxes on employer-provided health care coverage, according to a poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the Alliance to Fight for Health Care: 87� Number of Americans who currently have health insurance through an employer: 180 million

Source: Alliance to Fight for Health Care.

Idle Thought

"Every age is fed on illusions, lest men should renounce life early and the human race come to an end." -- Joseph Conrad, novelist (1857-1924)

Percentage of organizations that implemented larger salary increases this year compared to 2021, with 21% reporting "significantly higher" increases, according to a survey by Pearl Meyer: 70

Ranks of concern about retaining employees and rising inflation (and higher cost living) on the list of factors for the larger increases: 1, 2

Source: Pearl Meyer and Partners.

Percentage of men who somewhat or strongly agree that it is socially acceptable for women to enter a female-led age-gap relationship -- that is, to date someone 10 or more years younger than them, according to a survey conducted for Ruby Life Inc.: 65

Percentage of women who are accepting of male-led age -gap relationships, though that number drops to 56% when the gap is female-led: 70

Source: Ruby Life Inc.

Percentage of working adults who say they would prefer a 10% pay increase over an additional week of paid time off, according to a survey by CareerBuilder: 66

Among employed adults, percentage who selected "a good salary" -- tied with "job security" as the aspects of their current job they most appreciate: 47

Source: CareerBuilder.com.

Percentage of adults age 21 and older who have ever consumed cannabis who have done so for health and wellness purposes, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Curaleaf Holdings Inc.: 91

Percentage of Americans who say they would prefer holistic solutions over pharmaceuticals to treat a medical issue when possible: 75

Percentage who say they would prefer to use cannabis rather than pharmaceuticals to treat a medical issue: 62

Source: Curaleaf Holdings Inc.

Ranks of feeling frustrated, irritated and stressed on the list complaints from a survey of patients with sleep difficulties, according a survey conducted by The Alliance for Sleep and sponsored by Idorsia: 1, 2, 3

Source: Idorsia Pharmaceuticals U.S. Inc.

Percentage of Americans who plan to grill out more during the next six months, according to poll conducted on behalf of Omaha Steaks: 76

Percentage who enjoy outdoor BBQs with friends and family more than going out to a restaurant: 79

Source: Omaha Steaks.

Percentage of remote workers -- including both fully remote and hybrid workers -- who say their teams' performance has improved during the past two years, according to research from Eagle Hill Consulting: 45

Percentage of in-person workers who say their teams' performance has improved: 34

Percentage of all workers who say their manager trusts them to get their work done -- a sentiment that is fairly consistent for remote, hybrid and in-person employees: 64

Source: Eagle Hill Consulting.

Percentage of people who report that inflation has made them more interested in earning credit card rewards, according to WalletHub: 80

Amount more money that the best rewards cards can yield than the worst rewards cards over the first two years: $1,204

Source: WalletHub.

Estimated number of weddings that are expected to happen in 2022, the most since 1984, according to Bankrate.com: 2.5 million

Number of U.S. adults who feel or have felt pressure to spend more time than they're comfortable with to attend a celebratory event in 2022: 39 million

Source: Bankrate.com.

Percentage of adults who believe climate change is already impacting the health of Americans, according to a poll from the American Psychiatric Association: 58

Percentage of adults who are anxious about climate change's impact on future generations: 51

Source: American Psychiatric Association.

Idle Thought

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead, anthropologist (1901-1978)