Financial Surveys & Statistics

Here are some random, but relevant statistics that I’ve collected the past week.

$10.5 Billion – The amount shelled out at U.S. movie theaters in 2009 as of Dec. 27, a record gross for Hollywood. (Source: Hollywood.com)

15.5% – Increase in online sales this past holiday season. While significantly higher than the 3.6% increase in total holiday retail sales, e-commerce still made up less than 10% of those sales. (Source: MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse)

76% – The percentage of consumers responding to a credit counseling survey who say that decreasing debt is their No. 1 New Year’s resolution. Six percent say that increasing savings is the top solution, while 11% intend to improve their credit scores. (Source: The National Foundation for Credit Counseling)

59% – Percentage of parents who say they are not currently setting aside any money for their children’s college education. (Source: Finra Investor Education Foundation Survey)

78% – Most U.S. air travelers (78%) approve of the use of full body scans of airline passengers, and 67% say they would not be personally uncomfortable in undergoing such a scan. (Source: Gallup)

68% – Two-thirds of Americans have taken steps to make their home more energy efficient. Of those who have, 71% say they did so to save money, while 26% sought to improve the environment. (Source: Gallup)