From the article:
"The first set of results from this unprecedented survey were released
on Wednesday, as the inaugural report of The Gallup-Healthways Well-
Being Index, and they find that 47 percent of Americans are struggling
to stay afloat, and 4 percent are suffering as a result of money woes
and illness. The remaining 49 percent say they are thriving, based on
their quality of life and outlook on their future."
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/introducing-the-happiness-index/