Research

60%
A Business Insider survey found 60% of businesses considered their Groupon experience a success. But more than half said they don’t want to run another Groupon deal, and half said they would not recommend Groupon to another small business.
 

3%
American employers are expected to raise wages an average of 3 percent in 2012, according to a new survey by consulting firm Mercer. Top-performing workers can expect even larger raises at 4.4%. “Employers realize that in order to hang on to their best employees, they’re going to have to reward them,” said Catherine Hartmann, a principal with Mercer’s rewards consulting business. “And while non-cash rewards, such as training and new opportunities, enhance retention, base pay is still the most important element of the employment deal.”
 

55%
While 55% of households with a lawn or garden planned to use weed control on their lawns this summer, that number is down 5% from 2010, according to the 2011 Early Summer Gardening Trends Survey. Other findings: the number of households that planned to use insect control in 2011 remained at 40%, but reseeding lawns jumped 10%, meaning 36% of households planned for the lawn treatment.
 

2%
Apparently the Monday blues aren’t a myth. A Gallup-Healthways poll conducted from January 2008 through June 2009 found that American’s happiness levels stay even during the workweek. The change comes Saturday and Sunday. Weekend socializing boosted the respondents’ aggregate happiness by 2%. The reason? According to the data, it was more time – about 1.7 hours daily, on average – spent with family and friends.
 

$50 million
The USDA allocated $50 million, which is provided by the 2008 Farm Bill, for projects that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. “USDA is continuing its partnership with states, industry and other interested groups under the 2008 Farm Bill to prevent the entry of invasive plant pests and diseases, quickly detect those that may slip in and enhance our emergency response capabilities,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.