Recent posts by Matthew Hilburn:
What Are the Most Popular Christmas Songs in the US?
Thanksgiving traditionally kicks off the holiday season in the United States. It’s the time of year when many put up outdoor Christmas lighting, decorate their Christmas tree and start listening to Christmas music. In fact, some radio stations play holiday music 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the season. But over the […]
American Pizza: Different Forms, Different Tastes
Two of America’s biggest cities are again embroiled in a food fight – over pizza. To Chicagoans, their deep-dish pie is the best pizza in the country. New Yorkers like large slices of thin pizza and claim theirs is the best. The tiff between the cities has been going on for years and recently flared […]
Thanksgiving Celebrations Vary by Region
Thanksgiving Day, a time to give thanks, will be celebrated in the United States on November 23 this year. Many Americans will mark the occasion by consuming the traditional fare of turkey and all the trimmings, with friends and family. How it is celebrated, however, varies by region. According to Google Trends, Americans have […]
Americans’ Sense of Well-being Drops in 2017
Americans’ sense of well-being has dropped, a new poll suggests. According to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, the sense of well-being dropped from a score of 62.1 points in 2016 to 61.5 so far in 2017. The index is measured on a scale of 100 points scale based on five elements. Those include having a […]
Apple Reveals Most Popular Emoji in US
Americans love emojis, and now Apple has revealed the most popular on its many platforms. And the winner is: the “Tears of Joy” emoji–by a lot! While ostensibly an emoji about finding something so funny, it makes people cry, the face has also become a sign of mockery. For example, it is often used […]
Americans Divided About Free Speech
A solid majority of Americans think political correctness has stifled the ability to talk openly about problems facing society, a new survey finds. According to the Cato Institute, 71 percent of Americans “believe that political correctness has silenced important discussions our society needs to have.” Some 58 percent say they’re afraid to share their political […]
How Many Americans Believe in Ghosts?
As Americans head out for trick or treating on Halloween night, almost one in five believe it is possible they will see a real ghost. A 2009 Pew Research Center survey shows that 18 percent of American adults say they have seen or “been in the presence” of a ghost. Almost one in three […]
Record Number of Americans Support Legal Marijuana
Nearly two-thirds of Americans now favor the legalization of marijuana, the highest percentage yet. According to a poll by Gallup, 64 percent of Americans favor legalizing the plant. When Gallup starting asking Americans the question in 1969, only 12 percent of Americans were for legalizing marijuana. “The trajectory of Americans’ views on marijuana is […]
Most Popular Halloween Costumes 2017
Halloween is just around the corner, and Americans of all ages (and many of their pets) will wear a costume. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween spending report, more than 179 million Americans are planning to partake in Halloween festivities, up from 171 million last year. Additionally, Americans will spend about $9.1 […]