Charts
Study Examines What Americans Spend the Most Money On
As the economy shifts, we can see changes in consumer spending habits, as reflected in this Qualtrics study, which reveals what Americans spend the most money on. These insights show us what Americans prioritize and how much flexible spending money they have available for non-essentials. Using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the team created a chart breaking down spending by category and then a further breakdown of spending categories by income bracket.
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According to the data collected, Americans spend around $77,280 per year. This spending was divided into these categories, ranked by the amount spent on each.
- Housing – $25,436 (32.9% of total annual expenses)
- Transportation – $13,174 (17% of total annual expenses)
- Food – $9,985 (12.9% of total annual expenses)
- Personal insurance and pensions – $9,556 (12.4% of total annual expenses)
- Healthcare – $6,159 (8% of total annual expenses)
- Utilities, fuels, and public services – $4,625 (6% of total annual expenses)
- Entertainment – $3,635 (4.7% of total annual expenses)
- Household furnishings and equipment – $2,508 (3.2% of total annual expenses)
- Apparel and services – $2,041 (2.6% of total annual expenses)
- Personal care products and services – $950 (1.2% of total annual expenses)
- Alcoholic beverages – $637 (0.8% of total annual expenses)
- Tobacco products and smoking supplies – $370 (0.5% of total annual expenses)
Across income categories, Americans spent the most money on housing, which comes as no surprise. Housing costs and mortgage interest rates have been on the rise since 2020 in response to a shortage in housing stock. That means Americans must spend more if they dream of home ownership. The team’s data takes rent into account as well.
Many people also spent a lot on transportation. This is due to a combination of rising fuel costs leading to higher vehicle prices, as well as parts shortages that affected vehicle stock and prices. Another necessity takes number three on the list. According to the data, Americans are spending $1,174 a month on groceries. Grocery prices have dominated newsfeeds for the past few years. We all need food to survive, so seeing this item so far up the list is no surprise.
With so much uncertainty in the world, it seems Americans are investing heavily in insurance and pensions. The data shows that the more money someone makes, the more they spend on insurance, which makes sense as they need to protect expensive assets. Insurance can help offset unforeseen costs and protect investments. Unfortunately, this insurance spending is shared with high healthcare spending as well. Americans spend more than most citizens of other wealthy nations. As the cost of living has increased, so have health insurance premiums. Healthcare spending not only includes health insurance, but also co-pays, medical supplies, and surprise bills.
We live in an era full of strange relationships with money and wealth. Many Gen Z Americans state feeling “pressured” to show off wealth and luxury on social media, while 41% of Americans don’t feel they’re financially secure. Despite rising expenses, Americans still enjoy shopping, with many of them choosing to go shopping as a treat once a month. Gen Z cites boredom as their number one reason for spending money. Even so, 73% say they are willing to cut back on their daily spending to save for longer-term goals. It seems that although prices are rising, many Americans, particularly younger ones, are still willing to spend on a variety of areas.
Charts
New Study Reveals Details About American Intimacy
NapLab’s new study, “Most Popular Sex Positions,” is so much more than a cheeky peek at bedroom habits. It’s a fascinating examination of human intimacy, preference, and evolving sexual behaviors over time. The team employed bright visuals, clear rankings, and easy-to-read data that compile their survey responses into a graphic that shows us which sex positions are most popular and how that preference changes and shifts over time.
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The results are not surprising at first glance. The most popular positions are missionary, doggy style, and cowgirl. But a closer look at the data tells a more nuanced story. We can see that younger adults are more likely to favor adventurous or dominating positions, while older people prefer positions that emphasize comfort and emotional connection. People who have been in relationships longer seek positions based on comfort and ease of movement. This may be partially due to physical ease, but it also speaks to emotional and psychological needs.
This chart stands out for its ability to discuss a sensitive topic respectfully yet engagingly. The team skillfully avoids judgment and sensationalism in its presentation of the data. The visual format is approachable for readers who may shy away from the details and feel uncomfortable reading about sexual preferences. The graphic helps normalize conversations about sex, encourages healthy communications between partners, and promotes the idea of discussing desire to improve sex lives.
Gender differences are on display here, too. Men and women enjoy a variety of positions, but we see variations in the rankings that reflect different desires for control, stimulation, and connection. Rather than reinforce gender stereotypes, these differences highlight why communication is so important in a sexual relationship. It’s normal for one partner to enjoy something a little different from the other, and exploring those differences together will lead to a better experience for both partners.
This chart’s strength lies in the different ways it can serve the audience. For curious people, the graphic prompts a reflection on personal preferences. For couples, this could be a useful and judgment-free tool for trying something new and exploring what feels good. Educators and therapists could use the graphic as a visual aid while discussing intimacy in a data-driven way.
The most meaningful takeaway is the reminder that there’s no one “correct” way to have sex. Preferences and variations are common and natural. Some people seek novelty while others value comfort. Some want connection while others are seeking a thrill. The study reinforces the fact that open communication, consent, and a willingness to understand a partner’s needs are the path to a happy sex life.
This study is more than a chart of sex positions. It’s a cultural glimpse into intimate relations and the ways we connect physically and emotionally while opening the door to deeper conversation about pleasure, partnership, and trust, all while keeping the topic light, respectful, and fun.
Charts
Study Shows Where Americans Experience the Most and Longest Power Outages
The team at Ooma sheds light on a common American annoyance: power outages. The team studied data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration to figure out which states had the most and least power outages, as well as the places where the power is out the longest. We see clear differences on the map and in the ranking system that indicate that the national power grid is weaker in some spots and that others are more geographically prone to storms that produce outages.
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One state emerges as the place where the lights go out the most. Perhaps it’s fitting that Stephen King’s spooky home state of Maine emerges as the place with the highest number of annual power outages. Mainers experience an average of 4.75 outages per year, with the longest consolidated time spent in the dark being 1,386 minutes per customer, just under 24 hours.
It should come as no surprise that the Pine Tree State is the most heavily forested in the nation. Falling trees and limbs are the biggest cause of power outages, so these two factors must be linked. Much of Maine is rural with an aging power grid infrastructure, and the state is known for having strong snow and ice storms that can knock out the power, too.
These are the ten states that have the most power outages per year:
- Maine: 4.75
- Alaska: 3.66
- Louisiana: 2.65
- Tennessee: 2.50
- West Virginia: 2.41
- Hawaii: 2.38
- Mississippi: 2.13
- Georgia: 2.01
- Oklahoma: 1.98
- Kentucky: 1.97
For people seeking a place where the power is more reliable, the team found that Utah and Wisconsin took the crown for the fewest outages. Both average less than one outage per year. Utah’s power grid is updated, strong, and well-maintained, a powerful mix with the state’s mild weather, with fewer storms to knock down power lines.
Overall, these ten states have the fewest power outages:
- Utah: 0.67
- Wisconsin: 0.68
- Nebraska: 0.81
- Colorado: 0.84
- Wyoming: 0.88
- Kansas: 0.89
- Maryland: 0.91
- Delaware: 0.95
- Minnesota: 1.04
- Iowa: 1.05
One state emerges above the others with the longest length of power outages. Louisiana outages last 470 minutes on average per customer, which means Louisiana residents face nearly eight hours without power during each outage. These lengthy outages are likely due to strong hurricanes and tropical storms that knock out power for millions and cause complications like flooding that slow down crews trying to repair the damage. Louisiana’s longest outages in the past few years happened during the destructive Hurricane Ida.
Other states on the Gulf Coast also deal with long outages, like Texas’s 328-minute average and Mississippi’s 399-minute average. After huge, powerful storms, crews may need days to restore power to all the customers. Texas is estimated to have the oldest and least functional grid in the U.S., which drops its rankings. Explore the data to see what patterns and potential causes you notice.
Business Visualizations
Study Analyzes How Company Age Shapes Remote Work Adoption
Before the Internet, the traditional workday happened on-site or in an office space. Businesses relied on face-to-face interaction in customer service and functions. Physical presences were needed to answer phones, greet clients, keep a filing system, and produce work. But high-speed internet access and video conferencing changed the face of the workday. Office-based work was no longer necessary. The COVID-10 pandemic pushed workers home by necessity, and once the danger passed, employees began to demand the continuing flexibility of a work-at-home schedule. However, not every company or business is ready to adapt.
The team at Ooma performed a comprehensive analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 Annual Business Survey. The findings revealed interesting patterns in how the age of a company influences its decision to offer remote work. The youngest companies, those under 2 years old, most commonly offered work-from-home options at 43.9%. The older the company, the fewer remote work options there were. Here are the statistics: 41.8% for businesses aged 2–3 years, 40.8% for 4–5 years, 40.4% for 6–10 years, 38.2% for 11–15 years, and 35.6% for companies with 16 or more years in operation.
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When studying why companies don’t adopt remote work, the primary obstacle was clear and consistent across companies of all ages. 56.8% to 69.1% of companies said that job incompatibility was the biggest barrier to remote work. Obviously, not all tasks can be performed remotely. After job incompatibility, companies cited security concerns as the biggest barrier to remote work. However, the younger the company, the less likely they were to have computer security concerns. Younger companies are more likely to rely on cloud-based work software with built-in security features.
After these two reasons, management complexity was the most common barrier. The larger the company, the more difficult managing remote workers might become. The most interesting category might have been the data on companies reporting “no limiting factors” to remote work. 39.7% of the youngest companies said there were no barriers and 27.6% of the oldest companies believed there were no barriers to offering remote work.
The team also examined the number of remote workers and changes over time. It was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic skyrocketed the number of remote workers. Only 23% of remote work-capable employees actually worked from home in 2019. By 2023, 35% of these employees worked from home, down from the pandemic peak of 38% in 2021. Although there was a peak in remote work at the height of the pandemic, it’s clear that remote work is much more common now than it was before the pandemic.
The findings point to newer companies having more willingness and capability to offer remote work, though large legacy businesses have the biggest staff and most resources to hire remote workers. However, they have the biggest challenges in adapting old systems to new ways of working, a task young companies don’t need to worry about.
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