Each Wednesday, Nik Nanos of Nanos Research digs beneath the numbers with Power & Politics host Evan Solomon to get to the political, economic and social forces that shape our lives.

Nik Nanos goes beyond the numbers every Wednesday on CBC Power & Politics with host Evan Solomon. (CBC)

Recognized as one of Canada's top research experts, Nik Nanos provides numbers-driven counsel to senior executives and major organizations. He leads the analyst team at Nanos, is a fellow of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, a research associate professor with SUNY (Buffalo) and a 2013 public policy scholar with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington DC.

Tune in for the Nanos Number, Wednesdays on Power & Politics with Evan Solomon, 5 to 7 p.m. ET on CBC News Network.

View past episodes below:

Feb. 13: What Obama did not say in the State of the Union

The Nanos Number: 16 trillion. The staggering size of the U.S. public debt was one figure U.S. President Barack Obama didn't mention during his annual address, and it's one that overrides everything he wants to do. Read more and watch the episode

Feb. 6: Confidence in the economy

The Nanos Number: 27. That's the percentage of Canadians who feel the economy is getting stronger — a low number that lags behind Americans' views. Watch the full episode

Jan. 30: The cost of youth unemployment

The Nanos Number: 14, the unemployment rate among young people. That's twice the national average — and a conundrum for political parties. Read more and watch the episode

Jan. 23: Quebec and the federal Liberal race

The Nanos Number: 46. That's the percentage of committed NDP supporters in Quebec who would consider voting for the Liberals. Read more and watch the episode

Jan. 16: Pipelines seen as safest

The Nanos Number: 54, the percentage of Canadians who believe pipelines are the safest way to transport crude oil. Read more and watch the episode

Jan. 3: Uncertainty grows among Canadians

The Nanos Number: 16. That's the percentage point drop over one year in the number of Canadians who say the country is moving in the right direction. Read more and watch the episode

Dec. 19: Americans favour gun registration

The Nanos Number: 76, the number of Americans Americans who favour requiring gun owners to register their guns with local government. Read more and watch the episode

Dec. 12: Canadians' financial confidence falling

The Nanos Number: 37. That's the number of Canadians who feel they are worse off financially compared to a year ago — a big jump from similar sentiment after the last federal election. Watch the episode and read more

Nov. 28: Changing population, changing politics

The Nanos Number: 25, the percentage point drop since 1961 of families with a married couple. That shift and other demographic changes mean political parties must change their message or risk losing votes. Read more and watch the episode

Nov. 21: Harper seen as most competent

The Nanos Number: 17, the percentage point gain by Stephen Harper since April, when it comes to who Canadians would describe as the most competent leader. Read more and watch the episode.

Nov. 14: Public service a 'political punching bag'?

The Nanos Number: 9. That's the percentage of Canadians who believe tension between the civil service and the Harper government creates good public policy. View the episode and read more.

Nov. 7: Canada and Obama's path to victory

The Nanos Number: 9. That was U.S. President Barack Obama's percentage point margin of victory Tuesday in the popular vote in 15 U.S. states bordering Canada. What does that mean for U.S.-Canada relations? Watch the episode and read more

Oct. 31: Hurricane Sandy's political impact

The Nanos Number: 47. That's the even split in popular support for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Will the disruption of Hurricane Sandy be a late game changer? Watch the episode and read more.

Oct. 24: Canadians consider China biggest threat

The Nanos Number: 21. China is seen as presenting the greatest threat to national security by one-fifth of Canadians — more than Iran, Afghanistan or Russia. Watch the episode and read more.

Oct. 17: Battle for the middle class

The Nanos Number: 51. The percentage of Canadians who say they'd be in some difficulty if they missed a paycheque. Read more and watch the episode here.

Oct. 10: Doing business with China

The Nanos Number: 26. The percentage of Canadians want Chinese goods inspected above those of other countries. Read more and watch the episode.

Oct. 3: Support for free trade wavers

The Nanos Number: 14. That's the percentage of Canadians who feel a free trade agreement with the EU will have a positive impact. Read more and watch the episode.

Sept. 26: Energy for us or for export?

The Nanos Number: 63. That's the percentage of Canadians who prefer a continental energy strategy over an export strategy. Read more and watch the episode.

Sept. 19: Carbon tax attacks and the economy

The Nanos Number: 6. That's the percentage point jump from July to September in Canadians listing the economy as the top national issue of concern. So why is the government focussing on non-existent carbon taxes? Read more and watch the episode

Sept. 12: Canada-U.S. security cooperation

The Nanos Number: 66. Two-thirds of Americans surveyed - and more than half of Canadians - support greater cooperation between the U.S. and Canada on matters of national security. Read more and watch the episode.

Sept. 5: The PQ's slim victory

The Nanos Number: 32. That's the percentage of popular vote won by the Parti Québécois in Quebec's election — just one point higher than the Liberals, but enough for a minority government. Read more and watch the episode.

Aug. 29: Do women hold the keys to the White House?

The Nanos Number: 42. That's the percentage of women who would support Republican nominee Mitt Romney if an election was held today - revealing of the gender gap at the heart of the 2012 presidential race. Read more and view the episode

Aug. 22: Will Quebecers vote with their pocketbooks?

The Nanos Number: 15. Just 15 per cent of Quebecers surveyed feel they are better off now versus a year ago. Read more and view the episode

Aug. 17: Is a vote for the PQ a vote for separation?

Not according to The Nanos Number. More than two-thirds — 67 per cent — of Quebecers believe a victory by the sovereigntist PQ party would mean voters simply want a change in government and not necessarily to separate. Read more and view the episode

July 25: How confident are Canadians in their governments?

The Nanos Number: 9. That's the percentage of Canadians who are confident their elected representatives can find solutions to the challenges Canada faces. Read more and watch the episode.

July 18: Federal Liberals on the move in Quebec

The Nanos Number: 11. That's the percentage increase in support for the federal Liberals in the province of Quebec compared to the last federal election. Read more and watch the episode.

July 11: Is the NDP becoming a national force?

The Nanos Number: 38. That's the support for the provincial NDP in Newfoundland and Labrador, putting them at a historic high and ahead of the ruling Conservatives. Does this signal deepening roots for the federal NDP? Read more and watch the episode

July 4: U.S. net worth takes a hit

The Nanos Number: 35. Americans' household net worth has dropped 35 per cent since 2005, a number that holds warnings for Canada's housing market and personal debt. Read more and watch the episode

June 27: Which party is most sensitive to the needs of key voters?

The NDP is seen as most sensitive to the needs of key groups of voters — such as seniors and new Canadians — and is close to the Conservatives on small business, suggests a Nanos Research survey. Read more and watch the episodes: Part 1 | Part 2

June 20: Are taxes the way to tame deficits?

The Nanos Number: 55. More than half of Canadians would have a somewhat negative or negative view of a politician who pitched tax hikes as a way to pay for deficit spending. Read more and watch the episode

June 13: Party leaders and the trust factor

The Nanos Number: 41. Parties with a leader trusted by Canadians have a critical strategic advantage. But four in 10 Canadians don't know which leader to trust — if any. Read more and watch the episode

Jun 7: Crime and politics

The Nanos Number: 81. If so many Canadians feel safe, why has the Conservative government focused so much on crime? It's the power of the hot-button issue. Read more and watch the episode

May 30: Future generation's standard of living

The Nanos Number: 41. The percentage of Quebecers who feel they'll have a lower standard of living than their parents may help explain the student protests in Quebec. Read more and watch the epidsode

May 23: Matching up priorities

The Nanos Number: 4. Are the stated priorities of Stephen Harper's government in line with Canadians' priorities? Read more and watch the episode

May 17: Seniors the next protest group?

The Nanos Number: 17. Seniors are more likely to live in poverty now than 20 years ago, with the pressure of rising bills, pensions at risk and uncertainty. Is this group — noted for high voter turnout numbers — a "silent, angry mob" to watch? Read more and watch the episode

May 9: It's the economy, stupid

The Nanos Number: 47. Nearly half of Canadians rate fiscal management a 10 out of 10 when evaluating a premier. Read more and watch the episode