Percentage of U.S. adults who say American food is what they are most likely to choose if they had the choice to go out to a restaurant and eat one type of food, according to the findings of a Harris Poll: 28

Percentage who say that they would most likely choose Italian: 22

Percentage who would choose Mexican: 17

Percentage who would opt for Chinese: 16

SICK DAYS

Percentage of employers who report that "presenteeism" (showing up to work sick) is a problem in their organizations, according to a study by CCH: 38

Percentage of sick employees who show up to work that employers say are suffering from short-term illnesses such as cold and flu, which can be easily spread: 87

Percentage of employers who say they foster a culture that discourages employees from coming to work sick: 34

HIGH-TECH GIFTS

Percentage of Americans who have at least one digital lifestyle product on their wish lists leading up to the Christmas season, according to a national survey by Solutions Research Group: 76

Ranks of a flat-screen high-definition TV (35 percent), laptop (20 percent) and a digital camera (17 percent) in the top 10 of wish list items: 1, 2, 3

SALARY GUILT

Percentage of CEOs, presidents and other inside directors who say that their pay is too high or somewhat high relative to their performance, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Corporate Directors: 67.4

Percentage of outside directors who say the same: 81.1

Percentage of top CEOs, presidents and other inside directors who say that they are underpaid: 2.2

JOB SECURITY

Estimated value of the security management industry — homeland security, corporate security, cyber security, etc., according to Jeffrey Fowler, professor and security management program manager at American Military University, part of the American Public University System: $100 billion

Starting salary range: $50,000 to $70,000

VALUED WORKERS

Percentage of managers who say they are not aware of a formal employee retention strategy at their company, according to a survey by Hudson: 75

Percentage of the workforce who believe that it would be at least somewhat easy to find another job right now: 56

Percentage who say they have been contacted by a recruiter or hiring manager about a job opening within the past year: 32

PERKED UP

Percentage of employers that offer cell phones to their executives as a perk, according to a survey conducted by Compdata Surveys: 63.2

Percentage that provided laptops or home PCs: 44

Percentage that provided car allowances: 33.3

Percentage that provided company cars: 29.7

FASHION SENSE

Percentage decline in total fashion spending by teens from spring 2007 to fall 2007, according to results of the "Taking Stock With Teens" survey, a national study on teen spending habits and retail brand perceptions conducted by Piper Jaffray and Co.: 24

Despite moderation in spending habits, percentage of the total teen budget that the fashion category represented for the fall 2007 season: 42

Ranks of Hollister, West Coast Brands, American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Forever 21 that teens cited as their favorite places to shop: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Ranks of Ikea and Pottery Barn/PB Teen that teens cited as their favorite home furnishing retailer: 1, 2

STRICTLY BUSINESS

Ranks of Wyoming, South Dakota and Nevada on the list of the most "business friendly" states, according to the Tax Foundation's 2008 State Business Tax Climate Index: 1, 2, 3

Ranks of Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York and California on the list of "least friendly" states to do business in: 1, 2, 3, 4

IDLE THOUGHT

"I find that principles have no real force except when one is well-fed."

— Mark Twain, author and humorist

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