Number of U.S. households that are now considered affluent, according to "The Affluent Market in the U.S." by Packaged Facts: 21 million.

Estimated aggregate income of these households in 2006: $3.6 trillion.

Percentage of all households considered affluent: 18.

Estimated percentage of U.S. household income that is controlled by these affluent households: 50.

BE IMAGINATIVE

Ranks of "Someone was following me, and I drove all around town trying to lose them" and "My dog dialed 911, and the police wanted to question me about what 'really' happened" as the most unusual excuses employees offered for arriving late to work, according to a report by www.CareerBuilder .com: 1, 2.

EXPENSIVE SNORTS

Percentage of all travelers surveyed who would use the mini-bar more often if the prices were reasonable, according to a hotel mini-bar/fridge survey by TripAdvisor: 94.

Percentage of travelers who said they never hit the mini-bar: 33.

Percentage who have had a dispute with a hotel over a mini-bar charge: 25.

To avoid being charged at higher hotel prices, percentage of travelers who have replaced an item in their hotel room mini-bar/fridge: 20.

DRIVING CLUELESS

Estimated number of licensed Americans who would not pass their written driver's license exam if taken today, according to results from the "2007 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test": 36 million.

Percentage who couldn't identify the proper following distance from the car in front of them: 81 (correct answer: two seconds).

Percentage who couldn't identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light: 84 (correct answer: Stop if it is safe to do so).

INTERNS PLAN AHEAD

Percentage of U.S. students who say completing an internship is "extremely" important for future career success, according to a survey by Vault Inc.: 82.

IMMIGRATION ANGST

Percentage of British adults who believe that there are too many immigrants in their country, according to the results of an International Herald Tribune/Harris Poll: 67.

Percentage of adults in both Germany and Italy who believe that there are too many immigrants in their country: 55.

Percentage of U.S. adults who believe that their country has too many immigrants: 35.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION

Percentage of male U.S. consumers who say that they get their required eight or more hours of sleep a night, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch: 22.8.

Percentage of female consumers who said the same: 25.6.

RETIREMENT NEEDS

Percentage of employers who say it is important for employees to know how much they will need at retirement so they can save accordingly, according to the Aon Consulting "2007 Benefits and Talent Survey": 98.

To educate employees about retirement needs, percentage of employers who offer online retirement planning tools: 80.

Percentage of organizations that expect their employees to find this information on their own: 34.

JOB MISCALCULATIONS

Percentage of administrative professionals who say that they have misread a work environment at least once, according to a survey conducted by OfficeTeam: 46.

Percentage of human resources managers who say that they have misjudged someone's fit for a role or position within their company: 59.

IDLE THOUGHT

"Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action."

— James Russell Lowell, writer.