Monday, Nov. 10, 2003

Numbers

7.2% Growth rate of the U.S. economy in the last fiscal quarter, the fastest since 1984

9 million Number of Americans listed as unemployed at the end of the same period, a rate of 6.1%

2 hrs. Average amount of time each day that children 6 and younger sit in front of a television set, computer or video game

39 min. Time that children spend reading or being read to

2,792 Official death toll from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, recorded in almanacs and history books

2,752 Revised tally released last week after an investigation by a New York City task force

$46.9 billion Donations to the country's largest charities in 2002, compared with $47.5 billion in 2001, the first drop in a dozen years

26.5% Decline in giving to arts and cultural organizations

10.4% Increase in giving to international relief groups

Sources: U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor; Kaiser Foundation; New York City medical examiner; Chronicle of Philanthropy