Looking for something haunting this Halloween?

Trick or treaters are gather for a Halloween celebrations on the North Lawn of the White House. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

12:44 pm, October 28, 2011 Updated: 12:45 pm, October 28, 2011

Frightful facts

1,998 firearms	The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allowed to pass from weapons dealers to gun runners during a 15-month period. By John Solomon, David Heath and Gordon Witkin
4,300 lives	Could have been saved annually if President Obama had allowed recommendations from the EPA for air quality regulations. By Corbin Hiar
184 bundlers	Number of President Obama’s 2008 fundraisers ($50,000 or more, 556 in total) who were appointed to a key administration position, won a government contract or received similar ‘social’ incentives. By Fred Schulte, John Aloysius Farrell and Jeremy Borden
2,000 lbs.	Amount of mislabeled fish product, previously deemed ready for sale, that was pulled from El Corte Inglés store shelves across Spain. By Mar Cabra, Marcos Garcia Rey and Kate Willson
50 refineries	That continue to use dangerous hydrofluoric acid, putting workers and 16 million Americans who live nearby at risk. By Jim Morris and Chris Hamby
$1.5 billion	The Department of Defense’s estimated cost of bringing its accounting practices (for an annual budget of $671 billion) to a ‘reliable’ level. By R. Jeffrey Smith
2.9 million	Number of Americans whose clean drinking water would be affected by the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline that would stretch across the U.S. By Corbin Hiar
29 doctors	Gathered to set the cost of more than 200 different Medicare-funded medical procedures. By Joe Eaton
1,673%	The markup charged to the U.S. Army by defense contractor Boeing for a helicopter part worth $190 — they paid $3,369.48. By Ben Wieder
$2 billion	Portion of the Department of Defense’s budget that is used to fund U.S. involvement in Iraq, each week. By Sandy Johnson
876%	Maximum annual interest rate charged until recently for a high-cost "payday loan" at Mountain America Credit Union. Controversial high-cost payday lending continues at 14 other non-profit credit unions. By Ben Hallman
73%	The increase in usage of limousines for transportation by the Obama administration over the previous Bush administration. By Joe Eaton
40%	Portion of Medicare-funded cancer screenings that are medically unnecessary. By Rochelle Sharpe and Elizabeth Lucas

If you really want to put a fright into the neighbors this weekend, forget the plastic lawn decorations. Instead, read them this bedtime story about how 40% of Medicare-funded cancer screenings are medically unnecessary. Or this one, about the 876% annual interest rate some “payday” lenders have used. As our treat to you this Halloween weekend, we’ve compiled some of the most scary statistics iWatch News has uncovered this year. Read at your own risk.

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About the Center

1,998 firearms

4,300 lives

184 bundlers

2,000 lbs.

50 refineries

$1.5 billion

2.9 million

29 doctors

1,673%

$2 billion

876%

73%

40%

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