subject: Is There An Average American? [print this page] Fewer Americans expect to become millionairesFewer Americans expect to become millionaires. According to a 2011 CNBC poll, only 20% thought their net worth would total $1 million within 10 years. However, if the poll participants had $1 million, 31% would be spent on saving and investing, 17% on giving to family, 14% on spending, 13% on paying down debt, 12% on buying real estate and 11% on charitable donations. In 2011 the U.S. has more than 10 million millionaires and they have a combined wealth of $39 trillion. In 2020 those numbers are expected to more than double - unless that's just "double-talk".
Americans love pets. In 2011 - in spite of the recession - pet ownership is at an all-time high of 72.9 million households. That's two-thirds of all households. About 78 million dogs and 86.4 million cats represent a 2.1% increase from 2010. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners will spend more than $50 billion on their animals in 2011. In fact, pet spending has increased every year since 2001 and only once by less than 5%. The average dog owner spends $254 yearly just on food - not including treats; the average cat owner spends $220. Pet expenses have become the new "petty cash".
More Americans have mental health problems. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that people who said they couldn't perform everyday tasks or engage in social and leisure activities because of mental illness increased from 2% in 1999 to 2.7% in 2009. That's an increase of 2 million people. Either more people have mental health problems or more people are comfortable talking about those problems. Unfortunately, fewer people are doing anything about mental distress. The number of people getting professional help decreased from 3.2% in 1999 to 2% in 2009. That in itself is a "mental distress signal".
The Americans who smoke the most tend to be construction workers, miners and food service workers. That's according to a 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those who work in these occupations are often younger, have fewer years of education and make less money. The study found 19.6% of working adults smoke, compared to as many as 30% in the construction, mining and food service industries. Librarians and teachers smoke the least - less than 9%. Maybe librarians and teachers are likelier to read the warning on cigarette packages and act "by the book".
