- Between February 2008 and February 2009, the number of architects claiming benefits rose by 760 per cent. ( Architect's Journal, 20th March 2009 )
- More than half of Britons think the countryside is "boring." One in ten adults are unable to identify a sheep; 83 per cent do not recognise a bluebell.(Farmers Guardian, 30th March 2009)
- The highest denomination banknote ever was a 100 quintillion peng note, issued by the Hungarian National Bank in 1946.(The Guardian, 25th March 2009)
- In 2008, four of the ten bestselling albums in the world were by British artists, compared to three by American artists.(China Post, 18th February 2009)
- 60.6 per cent of Twitter's 10m worldwide users are aged 35 or older, compared to 52.4 per cent of Facebook users.(The Times, 13th April 2009)
- More British households own two cars (27 per cent) than have no car (23 per cent).(Social Trends, Office of National Statistics)
- Between a third and half of the eligible members of German princely families joined the Nazi party. In 1938 nearly a fifth of senior SS officers were titled noblemen.(LRB, 9th April 2009)
- The government is the biggest spender on advertising in Britain. Its spending has increased to more than £400m a year.(Daily Telegraph, 29th March 2009)
- Around 46 per cent of employed Americans do not receive paid sick leave.(NewYork Review of Books, 9th April 2009)
- Britain is now the most popular destination for foreign students.(The Guardian, 21st March 2009)
- In 2008, 93 per cent of the world's executions took place in five countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or the US.(Daily Telegraph, 24th March 2009)
- Average weekly earnings in Britain have fallen for the first time in eight years, declining by 2.2 per cent over the last year.(The Times, 25th March 2009)
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