Demographics Fact File

The number of things Americans say they can't live without has multiplied in the past decade, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
The percentage of American adults who describe microwave ovens as a necessity rather than a luxury is 68%.
Home air conditioning is now considered a necessity by seven-in-ten adults
More than eight-in-ten (83%) now think of a clothes dryer as a necessity, up from six-in-ten (62%)
91% described a car as a necessity
3% say the same about an iPod

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Date: 12/14/2006

In a poll by Zogby International, a respected polling firm, a total of 56 percent agreed with one of the following pro-life views:
- abortion should never be legal (18percent)
- legal only when the life of the mother is in danger (15 percent)
- legal only when the life of the mother is in danger or in cases of rape or incest (23 percent)
Only 42 percent of those surveyed agreed with one of the following statements supporting abortion:
- abortion should be legal for any reason in the first 3 months (25 percent)
- legal for any reason during the first 6 months (4 percent)
- legal for any reason at any time during the woman's pregnancy (13 percent).
77% favor laws requiring that women who are 20 weeks or more along in their pregnancy be given information about fetal pain before having an abortion.

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Date: 12/8/2006

32% of those surveyed say they’re offended when a store clerk uses the generic but politically correct "Happy Holidays
Zogby polling shows an overwhelming majority (95%) say they are not offended by being greeted with a "Merry Christmas" while shopping, including 98% for weekly Wal-Mart shoppers.
One in three respondents who identified themselves as Jewish (32%) said they were upset by hearing "Merry Christmas" as were 10% of those of non-Christian faiths or who did not identify themselves with a religion.

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Date: 12/6/2006