More American couples are unmarried. According to the 2010 census, 12% of couples were unmarried – a 25% increase in the past 10 years. Sixty-six percent of the cities with the largest share of unmarried couples were in the Northeast and Midwest – cities where employment opportunities were more precarious. Camden, New Jersey had the highest share – 35%. The census showed lower shares of unmarried couples in middle-class and upscale suburban areas. Baltimore had 27%; however, nearby Columbia, Maryland had 9%. It seems the bad economy was a major factor. Two can live as cheaply as one – if one doesn’t eat.
Two may not be able to live as cheaply as one; but according to a 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, married people can live more cheaply than single people. A typical married person 21 to 23 years old spent more on average than a single person the same age - $21,138 and $19,980 respectively a year. At those ages married people earned about 33% more. Among 27 to 29 year olds, income levels were about the same. However, married people spent on average $27,816 per person per year and single people spent $35,026. Of course, everything changes when people start participating in “child’s play”.
Thirty-four percent of Americans don’t use all their annual vacation days. According to the 2009 Vacation Deprivation Study by Expedia, American workers took an average of 14 vacation days out of 18. The study also found that 19% of the study participants postponed or canceled vacation for work-related reasons, 30% experienced work-related stress while on vacation and 30% continued checking e-mail or working on job-related projects while out of the office. This may explain why there are 5,000-6,000 members of Workaholics Anonymous nationwide. If members could bring office work with them, the number would be much higher.
Americans are getting older. According to the 2010 census, the median age in America was 37.2 – older than ever before. Geographically, the Northeast was much older than the Southwest. Utah was the youngest state - median age 29.2 years. Maine was the oldest state – 42.7 years. This was the first time any state had a median age over 40. Older generations – particularly in the Northeast – included few Hispanics. However, among younger people the Hispanic population boomed. The median age for Hispanics was 27. For non-Hispanic, white Americans it was 41. Hmmm, as America’s median age increases will ageism decrease?
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