Marc Sznapstajler
The United States of America will be celebrating its 240th birthday this Fourth of July. It has been 240 years since the Declaration of Independence was officially approved by The Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Congress asserted the aspiring nation’s independence on July 2, but agreed upon the final wording on July 4. The historic document, which is now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., was not officially signed until August 2, 1776, and was not delivered to Great Britain until four months later in November of 1776 (remember, there was no television back then).
WalletHub, the personal-finance website, reported categorical numbers on how citizens in the U.S. spend their Fourth of July. Think about how many hot dogs are consumed, and not just by the contestants at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. How about how many pounds of chicken are bought? Below is a breakdown of WalletHub’s report.
Independence Day – By the Numbers
Food
• 64.5 percent of Americans plan on attending an Independence Day barbecue or picnic
• $6.77 billion is the total amount for planned spending on food
• 150 million hot dogs are consumed
• 700 million pounds of chicken is purchased a week prior
• 190 million pounds of beef is purchased two weeks prior
Fireworks
• 15,000 fireworks displays are held each Fourth of July
• 42.6 percent of Americans will watch fireworks or attend a community celebration
• 15 million viewers of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC
• 3 states ban all consumer fireworks: Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey
• 690 people go to the emergency room with firework-relate injuries each year
Travel and Safety
• 41.9 million Americans will travel 50+ miles from home this Fourth of July weekend
• 3.21 million people will travel by plane
• 85 percent of travelers will drive to their destination
• 41 percent of July 4 traffic fatalities involve alcohol impairment
We wish you and your family a safe, fun-filled Fourth of July with family and friends.
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