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A look at the world in numbers

150,000

Estimated number of lives that could be saved by cutting salt consumption by 10 percent

80

Percent of the salt in American diets that comes from restaurant meals or processed foods

1978

Year health advocates first petitioned the government to regulate salt content in processed foods

2.3

Percent drop in the United States jail population from June 2008 to June 2009, the first year-over-year drop since 1982

1.5

Gallons, the amount of bottled water consumed by the average American each year in 1976

30

Gallons, the amount consumed per person in 2008

10

Percent of homeowners with a mortgage who missed at least one payment in the January – March period, up 9.1 percent from 2009

4.3 million

The number of homeowners who have either missed at least three months of payments or are in foreclosure

25

Percent of homeowners who applied for the $75 billion federal foreclosure prevention program who have received permanent loan modifications

Sources: New York Times; ABC News; LA Times; Mortgage Bankers Association