Posted on: Sunday, October 26, 2008
Most super-rich consumers plan to continue shopping
By John MacIntyre
Percentage of the very, very rich (those with a net worth of at least $30 million) who project their spending through the end of 2008 to be on par with or greater than last year, according to Elite Traveler/Prince and Associates research: 70
Percentage of these super-rich consumers who plan to spend an average of $108,100 on jewelry and watches before the end of 2008: 96.4
Percentage of the super-rich who plan to spend an average of $77,300 on apparel and accessories before 2008 ends: 97.6
Percentage who plan to spend an average of $23,400 on the personal consumption of wines and spirits: 94
SOME IPOD KNOW-HOW
Percentage of Americans ages 19 to 39 — members of the so-called generations X and Y — who said they were very knowledgeable about how to use an iPod, according to survey by Employee Benefit Research Institute: 40
Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about eliminating or avoiding debt: 32
Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about buying a home: 21
Percentage who said they were very knowledgeable about how to invest their money outside of the workplace:15
ASIAN-AMERICANS
Estimated buying power of the burgeoning Asian-American market, which offers the most lucrative opportunities in the multicultural consumer market, according to research by Packaged Facts: $600 billion
Percentage of Asian-American households that have an income of at least $100,000: 36
Percentage of American families as a whole that have an income of at least $100,000: 25
HALLOWEEN BUCKS
Amount American consumers are expected to spend on Halloween this year, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch: $5.77 billion
Amount the average person will spend on costumes: $24.17
Amount the average person will spend on sweets: $20.39
WHAT'S A BOSS?
Percentage of American workers who would call their boss a "friend" — more than any other categorization, according to the Adecco USA "Workplace Insights" survey: 29
Percentage who would call him/her a mentor: 21
Percentage who view him/her as a confidant: 6
BUILDING POWER
Percentage of U.S. energy that is swallowed by buildings, though most Americans believe transportation and industry are the largest offenders, according to the U.S. Department of Energy: 40
Percentage of Americans who correctly identified buildings as the major energy culprit, according to a survey conducted by Owens Corning: 27
Ranks of buildings, industry and transportation as the primary users of energy: 1, 2, 3
REASONS FOR LEAVING
Percentage of administrative professionals who said having a bad boss would be the most important factor in a decision to leave their job, according to a survey conducted by the International Association of Administrative Professionals: 45
Percentage who indicated they would leave their job because of poor pay: 4
Percentage who would leave because of poor benefits: 2
JOB HAPPINESS
Percentage of American workers who are happy on the job, up slightly from last year's 61 percent, according to www.SnagAJob.com's "Labor Happiness" survey: 65
When workers were asked the No. 1 issue facing the nation, percentage who cited the economy: 57
POPULAR COSTUMES
Ranks of The Joker, Batman and Iron Man/Tony Stark on the list of the top three Halloween costumes for men, based on movies released in 2008, according to a survey by Fandango: 1, 2, 3
Ranks of "The House Bunny" (Anna Faris), Fox (Angelina Jolie) from the movie "Wanted" and Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) on the list of the top three Halloween costumes for women: 1, 2, 3
MARINE FISHERIES
Estimated annual economic losses in marine fisheries resulting from poor management, inefficiencies and overfishing, according to a World Bank-FAO report: $50 billion
Taken over the past three decades, estimated total losses, a figure roughly equivalent to the GDP of Italy: $2 trillion
Estimated number of people whose livelihoods depend on the fisheries: 200 million
Percentage of these people who live in developing countries: 90
IDLE THOUGHT
"It is also a victory to know when to retreat." — Erno Paasilinna, essayist Reach John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.
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