Billions of reasons why U.S. shoppers should clip coupons
Compiled by John MacIntyre
CORPORATE GAMERS
AMERICANS TUNED IN
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
SAVVY TRAVELERS
NOTES TO SELF
Percentage of business leaders who keep a to-do list during the day, according to a worldwide survey by NFI Research: 96
Percentage who have 1 to 20 items on it: 81
Percentage who say they generally complete their list: 83
Source: NFI Research
INEQUITY AT 62
Amount of money tied up in home equity in households of people aged 62 and older, according to a study released by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association: $4.3 trillion
CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS
Percentage of U.S. youths who say that money is the thing that gives them the most joy, according to a study conducted by The Associated Press and MTV: 1
Percentage who say spending time with family: 20
Percentage who say spending time with friends: 15
SHALLOW JOB POOL
Percentage of hiring managers who said it was difficult to find qualified candidates 12 months ago, according to an annual study by Robert Half International: 57
Percentage who said recruiting is equally or more challenging today: 91
Percentage of skilled labor workers who said they are more likely to negotiate a better compensation package today than 12 months ago (double the percentage from last year's poll): 58
SOCIAL ISSUE
Percentage of consumers who have been asked in the past year to provide their Social Security number in whole or in part by a business or government agency, according to a national poll by the Consumer Reports National Research Center: 87
In the past year, percentage of consumers who have been asked by a financial institution or retailer issuing credit to provide their Social Security number: 60
Percentage who reported that they received postal mail (other than tax documents) bearing their own or a family member's Social Security number in the past year: 14
Percentage of Americans who agree that state and federal lawmakers should pass laws restricting the use of Social Security numbers: 89
IDLE THOUGHT
"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment."
— Robert Benchley
Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca