MONEY MATTERS

Percentage of travelers who said money is the biggest barrier when it comes to taking family vacations, according to TripAdvisor's Family Travel Survey: 51

KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN

Percentage of job-seeking executives who said they would be comfortable setting their sights on new employment opportunities even while on their current employers' payrolls, according to a survey by Accountemps: 75

EARLY BIRDS IN MAJORITY

Percentage of Americans who classify themselves as "early birds," according to a survey conducted by Braun Research for Panera Bread: 46

FEWER NEWSPAPERS

Year the comic strip "Mutt and Jeff" first appeared in the nations' newspapers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1908

BUDGET BOOSTERS

Percentage of homeowners who have received reverse mortgage loans who said they needed the money because their budget was too tight, according to a survey conducted by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta: 19

Percentage who said they needed more liquid assets on hand: 16

Percentage who said the money was needed for repairs and maintenance: 15

Percentage who needed to care for dependents and/or pay medical bills: 8

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Percentage level of employee engagement — measured as overall satisfaction with their jobs, pride in working for their employers, whether they would recommend their organizations as a place to work and their willingness to put forth extra effort — for traditionalists, those employees 63 and older, according to research by Sirota Survey Intelligence: 84

GOING VIRTUAL

Percentage of C-level U.S. executives (CEO, CFO, CIO, owner/partner) who say they want to take their business completely virtual in the next five years, according to a survey conducted by TIE Commerce and The Mishra Group: 53.4

Percentage of U.S. executives who say they are familiar with the advantages of e-commerce: 80.8

WHO'D WEAR THAT?

Percentage of Americans who say that fashion shows are "over the top" and that they wouldn't wear any of what they see on the catwalk, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch: 86

SPENDING PRIORITIES

Percentage of Americans who say that they would rank spending to raise energy efficiency and develop alternative fuel technology as a top priority for future investment, according to a survey conducted by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in Virginia: 37

IDLE THOUGHT

"To want to be what one can be is purpose in life." — Cynthia Ozick, author

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