Figuratively Speaking

Percentage of real bearded Santas who groom their beard up to four times a day, according to a survey of members of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas by Auntie Anne's: 60

Percentage who own four to six red suits to stay looking sharp for the holidays: 23

Percentage of children who come to visit Santa at the mall who believe they have been good all year long: 75

Source: Auntie Anne's

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Percentage of workers who regret having snubbed the office holiday party, thus missing a prime opportunity for networking, according to a Tickle test for Monster. com: 31

Percentage who regret having drank too much at an office party: 20

Percentage who regret showing up late: 18

Source: Monster.com

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Hourly wage of a postal clerk, according to a study conducted by SnagAJob.com and based on Department of Labor data that cataloged the wages of the highest-paid holiday workers: $21.13

Number of cards, letters and packages processed by the U.S. Postal Service between Thanksgiving and Christmas: 20 billion

Source: SnagAJob.com

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Percentage of computer users who said they routinely or sometimes have too much to do during the holiday season, according to a survey of computer users commissioned by Lexmark International: 75

When respondents were asked what "shortcuts" they took as a result of having too much to do, percentage who said not decorating for the holidays: 36

Percentage who said they skipped a holiday party: 29

Source: Lexmark International Inc.

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Approximate number of real Christmas trees that are sold in the United States every year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association Inc.: 30 million

Estimated number of acres in production for growing Christmas trees in the United States: 500,000

Year of the first written record of a decorated Christmas tree -- located in Riga, Latvia: 1510

Source: National Christmas Tree

Association

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Percentage of shoppers who say they will be "in and out" of the stores, according to a survey from American Express: 38

Percentage who describe themselves as "bargain basement" shoppers: 30

Percentage who say they are "window shoppers": 11

Percentage who say they are "procrastinators": 9

Percentage who count themselves among the "last of the big spenders": 6

Source: M Booth and Associates

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Percentage of all holiday gift spending that will be done by the top 30 percent of households with the highest incomes, according to a study by the Harrison Group: 50

Percentage of all holiday gift spending that will be done by the remaining 70 percent of households: 50

Source: Harrison Group