Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

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  • short reads

    Hold Favorable View of Republican Party

    That’s the percentage of US adults who now say they hold a favorable view of the Republican Party, down 15 points since January 2001.

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    Black College Grads Online

    That’s the percentage of black college graduates who access the internet — the highest proportion of any demographic group recorded in a recent Pew survey.

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    The Importance of Being Christian

    Nearly four-in-ten Americans (39%) say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who is “Christian,” the second most positive trait tested, behind only “military service” (48%).

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    States Suspending Executions

    That’s the number of states that have suspended executions because of questions over lethal injection, the primary method of execution in 37 of the 38 states that have retained the death penalty — only Nebraska still uses the electric chair.

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    Improved Family Finances in 2007

    That’s the number of Americans who think their family finances will improve at least some (57%) or a lot (10%) over the coming year.

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    Hispanic Employment

    That’s the number of Hispanic workers employed in the US labor market in 2006, a year where there was strong growth in Hispanic employment.

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    Most Optimistic Homeowners

    That’s the portion of U.S. homeowners who expect the value of their home to go up “a lot” in the future. But another 55% still expect their home values to rise at least “a little.”

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    Global Warming and Religious Belief

    That’s the percentage of Americans who believe there is solid evidence that the average temperature of the earth has been increasing over the past few decades. That number includes large majorities of every religious group: 77% of Catholics, 79% of white mainline Protestants and 70% of white evangelicals.

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    Have Wireless Internet Access

    That’s the percent of internet users who have logged onto the internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else. In other words, one-third of internet users, either with a laptop computer, a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA), or cell phone, have surfed the internet or checked email using means such as WiFi broadband or cell phone networks

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    Gen Next: Still Picking Mom and Dad’s Pockets

    Nearly three-quarters (73%) of Gen Nexters — Americans in the age range 18-25 — told a recent Pew survey that they have received financial help from their parents during the past 12 months. Fully 46% say they depend on their parents or other family members for financial assistance.