Dividends paid out by U.S. corporations last year hit a record high – rising 2.6% to $503.1 billion. MarketWatch, February 22, 2021
In 2020, China spent a record 2.44 trillion yuan ($378 billion) on government-funded research and development, equaling 2.4% of their Gross Domestic Product; by contrast, the U.S. spent an estimated $134 billion, or roughly 0.7% of GDP.CNBC, March 1, 2021
Consumers said they do about 59% of their shopping online, and they expect to do 56% online after the pandemic ends. Before the coronavirus hit, consumers did about 39% of their shopping online. The Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2021
A survey of 1,000 pet owners in October found that 42% of respondents said their dogs or cats had gained weight over the course of the pandemic. The Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2021
In 2018, Americans sent 9.7 million tons of furniture to landfills, which was up from more than 6.5 million tons in 2000 and equivalent to 80% of all furniture manufactured that year. Bloomberg, February 23, 2021
The world’s debt-to-GDP ratio rose to 356% in 2020, up 35 percentage points from where it stood in 2019. Nonfinancial private sector debt now makes up 165% of the entire world’s economic output. Axios Markets, February 18, 2021
Organizers of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics sent a mixed message last week when it announced that it will ban hugs, high-fives, and other “unnecessary forms of physical contact” this summer but will distribute 150,000 free condoms to residents of the Olympic Village. India.com February 11, 2021
