Friday, Dec. 17, 2004

Numbers

12,000 Increase in the number of U.S. troops scheduled to be stationed in Iraq in January, to 150,000, the highest level since last year's invasion

10,400 Number of soldiers who will be ordered to extend their tours, with a majority surpassing the one-year deployment cap promised by the Army

$168 million Amount of federal money allocated for abstinence programs in U.S. schools next year, more than twice the amount spent in 2001

88% Percentage of U.S. teens who have premarital sex after taking virginity pledges

25.3 years Median age at first marriage for women in 2003, up from 20.8 in 1970; the median age for men, 27.1 years, increased from 23.2 in 1970

4.2% Percentage of U.S. households composed of unmarried opposite-sex partners, up from 2.9% in 1996

$1.265 million Last week's auction price for the bat Babe Ruth used in 1923 to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium

$80,000 Highest salary Ruth earned, in 1930 and 1931. Adjusted for inflation, that would be over $900,000 today

Sources: New York Times (2); Washington Post (2); U.S. Census Bureau (2); Reuters; ESPN