The numbers for Thursday, October 3: The drop

40,000

The number of planned job cuts announced by American companies last month, according to a new report. That’s a 20 percent drop from the previous month. (Challenger, Gray and Christmas)

300,000

The approximate number of cars that catch on fire each year. Shares of Tesla, the electric car company, fell by more than six percent yesterday, after a Tesla Model S caught fire in Washington, and a video of thatwent viral. (Marketplace)