The numbers.

31

Percent of senior managers who think its OK to ask about salary and benefits in the first job interview.

--Robert Half

30K+

Number of external communications an executive receives a year, up from 1,000 in the 1970s.

--Bain & Co, and VoloMetrix

72%

Number of senior finance execs worldwide who predict economic expansion this year.

--Amex & CEO Research

84

Percent of corporate execs who expect a sustained or increased M&A pace in the next 23 months.

--Deloitte

$ 12M

Collective profit of an insider stock trading scheme of four Northern California residents involving Ross Stores.

--SEC

3.3%

Average...