Percentage of Americans who are optimistic about their personal finances this year and list among their most important goals: spending less, building up an emergency fund, and earning enough to cover monthly bills, according to a survey sponsored by ING Direct USA: 43%

Percentage who plan to stash more cash in 2010 than in 2009: 64%

SINGLE GUYS LAG

Percentage growth in the median household incomes (adjusted for both inflation and house-hold size) of married men, married women and unmarried women from 1970 to 2007, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census data: 60%

Growth in the median household income of unmarried men over this period: 16%

GYM BOOM

Ranks of financial planning and advice, weight-loss/fitness, and work-related education among sectors that will benefit most from New Year's resolutions in 2010, according to an IBISworld study: 1, 2, 3

Approximate growth in gym membership in January: 12.5%

Projected growth in February: 9.5%

Projected growth in March: 8.7%

Overall forecast of 2010 growth in gyms and fitness clubs: 3.2%

PUNT THEM ADS

Percentage of respondents who said they enjoy the commercials during the Super Bowl more than the game itself, according to a Nielsen Co. survey: 51%

NO DIPLOMA

Chance that a public high school student in the U.S. won't graduate, according to the Kaufman Foundation: 1 in 4

Percentage of high school grads considered proficient in math: 17%

SILLY SEASON

Percentage of Americans who said the "balloon boy" hoax was the most ridiculous news story of 2009, according to a Zogby poll: 23%

Percentage who cited the Jon and Kate Gosselin breakup: 22%

Percentage who said the Octomom giving birth to eight babies: 12%

IN A JOB RUT

Percentage of workers who say their jobs are stagnant, according to Development Dimensions International's 2009 Pulse of the Workforce survey: 46%

Percentage of CEOs who plan to increase their work force expenses over the next 12 to 18 months, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers trendsetter survey: 57%

IDLE THOUGHT

"Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts."

— William Hazlitt, essayist