Facts, figures about U.S.

Percentage of managers at Fortune 1000 companies who say their company hosts an office party, according to surveys by Office Team: 73

Percentage of managers who said they enjoy celebrating the winter holidays with their colleagues: 77

Percentage of executives in a similar survey four years ago who said the annual get-together had fallen out of favor: 64

Source: OfficeTeam. Contact Julie Sims at 650-234-6104 or julie.sims@rhi.com.

Percentage of advertising and marketing executives polled who said office environments — including layout, decor and lighting — greatly affect on-the-job innovation, according to a survey developed by The Creative Group: 55

Percentage of respondents who reported that workplace environment impacts staff creativity at least somewhat: 38

Source: The Creative Group. Contact Julie Sims at 650-234-6104 or julie.sims@creativegroup.com.

Year the first commercially prepared pet food, a dog biscuit, was introduced in England: 1860

Percentage of U.S. households that are home to at least one pet dog or cat: 56

Pet dog population as of 2004: 61.8 million

Pet cat population as of 2004: 79.2 million

Source: Pet Food Institute. Contact Steve Payne at 202-367-1120 or steve@petfoodinstitute.org.

Percentage of Americans surveyed who either did not know or responded incorrectly when asked to define a good credit score (700), according to a survey by Consumer Action and Capital One: 66.8

Percentage of respondents who wrongly stated that age is a factor considered in determining credit scores: 54

Percentage of Americans who have never reviewed their credit report: 23

Percentage of Americans who report that they do not use a budget to manage their family's expenses: 36.1

Source: Capital One Financial Corp. Contact Pam Girardo at 703-720-2351 or pam.girardo@capitalone.com.

Percentage of consumers who say they began their serious holiday shopping before Thanksgiving, according to a survey by The Macerich Co.: 33

Percentage who began on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving): 28

Percentage who said they would wait until December: 24