Happy Friday the 13^th! Did you know this superstitious day is not only associated with bad luck, it also affects consumer decisions?

The Stress Management Centre and Phobia Institute, based in Asheville, N.C., estimates that $800 million to $900 million is lost every time the 13th of the month falls on a Friday, as people avoid doing business, leaving their homes or flying. This is due partially to the fact that between 17 million and 21 million people in the U.S. suffer from some degree of fear related to Friday the 13^th.

The official names for fear of Friday the 13^th are friggatriskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia, which cause symptoms as severe as panic attacks. Stuart Vyse, professor of psychology at Connecticut College, says the superstition that associates Friday the 13th with bad luck is one of the most widespread in Western culture because it is passed down from generation to generation.

For more interesting facts about Friday the 13^th, check out this article.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/01/12/f-friday-thirteenth.html