Percentage of search firm consultants who believe age becomes a significant factor in a hiring decision when a candidate is over the age of 50, according to surveys conducted by ExecuNet: 91

Percentage who report that age is never a factor when candidates are evaluated for a new opportunity: 5

Percentage of business leaders (with an average age of 50) who believed their age was working against them in a job search: 41

PAY LATE, PAY BIG

Estimated amount of money collected by banks and credit unions in overdraft fees last year, according to a study by the Center for Responsible Lending: $24 billion

Percentage increase from just two years ago: 35

SCARING UP BIZ

Projected sales of costumes, scary makeup, wigs, Halloween decorations for inside and outside, and, of course, pumpkins and candy, for America's darkest holiday, (up 4.2 percent from the $5.77 billion generated last year), according to industry research firm IBISWorld: $6 billion

Amount the average person is estimated to spend on Halloween treats in 2009: $22.50

NOT TRUSTED

Percentage of workers who don't think their boss is honest, according to a survey by the Adecco Group: 53

Percentage who would lay off/fire their boss if given the option: 28

DRESS FOR HOOTS

Ranks of princess, witch and Spider-Man on the list of top costumes for kids this Halloween, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation: 1, 2, 3

Ranks of pumpkin, devil and fancy collars on the list of top costumes for pets this year: 1, 2, 3

SCARED SILLY

With all the possible Halloween festivities, ranks of watching a scary movie (23 percent), costume parties (17 percent) and trick-or-treating (17 percent) on respondents' list of favorite Halloween activities, according to the Redbox "Halloween Thrillers" survey: 1, 2 (tie)

Ranks of "The Exorcist" (19 percent), "Halloween" (11 percent) and "A Nightmare on Elm Street" (11 percent) on the list of the best horror movies of all time: 1, 2 (tie)

Rank of Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" on the list of the most frightening movie villains: 1

IDLE THOUGHT

"A good leader can't get too far ahead of his followers."

— Franklin D. Roosevelt

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