Research!America's signature Research Takes Cents compare selected American leisure spending to the costs associated with conducting research. Low levels of research funding are not a result of the money not being available - it's just spent elsewhere.
How to Use Research Takes Cents
Research Takes Cents are easy to drop into a conversation, and they are particularly effective when used in presentations with images.
Research!America members can download a set of slides (PDF) to use in their own presentations.
Research Takes Cents Examples:
Potato Chips
Americans spent $3 billion on potato chips in 2007.
That could fund NIH obesity research for nearly three and a half years!
Sources: BBC News 2008; NIH FY 2009
Teeth Whitening
Americans spend more than $1.4 billion on over-the-counter teeth-whitening products each year.
That's enough to fund the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for nearly three and a half years!
Sources: MSNBC "Blindingly white: teeth bleaching gone too far;" NIH FY 2010
Cigarettes
In 2006, Americans spent $83.6 billion on cigarettes.
That's enough to fund the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for about 27 years!
Sources: CDC 2006; NHLBI FY 2010
Harry Potter
Harry Potter books, movies and related items have generated more than $15 billion worldwide!
That could fund all U.S. investment in global health research for more than a year!
Sources: Ad Age, 16 July 2007; Research!America Issue Paper:
2006 U.S. Investment in Global Health Research, 2007
Father's Day
Americans are expected to spend $9.8 billion on gifts this Father's Day. That could fund NIH research on colorectal cancer and prostate cancer for more than 14 years!
Sources: National Retail Foundation, 2010; National Institutes of Health "Estimates of Funding for Various Research, Condition, and Disease Categories," 2009.
Valentine's Day
Estimated amount Americans spent on Valentine's Day in 2009: $14.7 billion. That could fund the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for more than four years!
Sources: National Retail Federation, 2009; NHLBI FY09
Super Bowl
The ad time for a single commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl cost $2.5 million. That could fund more than six NIH R01 grants, which averaged $371,000 in FY08.
Sources: MSNBC, Advertising's Big Game; NIH Data Book
Americans spent more than $8.8 billion on Super Bowl game-related merchandise, apparel and snacks in 2010. That could fund more than 47 years of NIH research into head and spine trauma injuries at FY 2010 funding levels (estimated $184 million).
Sources: Retail Advertising and Marketing Association; NIH Disease Funding Table
Recreational Fishing
America's recreational fishers spend more than $45 billion on their sport each year.
That could fund the National Science Foundation for almost seven years!
Sources: American Sportsfishing Association; NSF FY08
Traffic Jams
Traffic congestion costs the U.S. economy $87.2 billion each year.
That's enough to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than
13 years!
Sources: Texas Transportation Institute's Urban Mobility Report; CDC FY 2010
Food Waste
Americans throw away $100 billion in edible food each year.
That could fund the research at the National Institutes of Health for three and a half years!
Sources: Timothy Jones, PhD, "Using Contemporary Archaeology and Applied Anthropology to Understand Food Loss in the American Food System," 2003; NIH FY08
Late Fees
Americans spent $12 billion on credit card late fees in 2007.
This would fund research at the National Science Foundation for almost two years!
Sources: RK Hammer, 2007; NSF FY08
Paper Products
In 2005, revenues on household paper products reached $13.7 billion.
That would fund 10 years of research on digestive diseases at the National Institutes of Health!
Sources: Packaged Facts, 2005; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Tailgating
In 2006, Americans spent $15 billion on tailgating.
That would fund research at the Centers for Disease Control for more than two years!Sources: American Tailgaters Association, 2006; CDC FY08
Flat-Screen TVs
Americans spent $28.7 billion on newer-technology TV sets in 2007.That sum would fund the National Eye Institute for more than 39 years!
Sources: Quixel Research Advanced TV Market; NEI FY08
Weddings
In 2009, the American wedding industry totaled $42 billion.
That could fund the National Institutes of Health for more than 16 months!
Sources: Wedding Report/Wall Street Journal; NIH FY 2010
Energy Drinks
The energy drink market was estimated at $4.8 billion in 2007.
That would fund the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research for more than 12 years!
Sources: Mintel Market Research 2008; NIDCR FY08
Teen Spending
In 2006, teenagers rang up $179 billion in sales.
That would fund the National Institutes of Health for more than six years!
Sources: Teen Research Unlimited; NIH FY08
Boating
Americans spent $39.5 billion on boating sales and services in 2006.
That would fund injury and accident research at the National Institutes of Health for 112 years!
Sources: National Marine Manufacturers Association, May 2007; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Ringtones
Americans spent about $550 million for ringtones in 2007.
This could fund the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for more than a year!
Sources: Broadcast Music, Inc, March 2007; NIDCD FY08
Fragrances
The women's fragrance industry is estimated at $4.2 billion annually.
That would fund asthma research at the National Institutes of Health for more than 17 years!
Sources: Research and Markets, November 2006; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Women's Footwear
In 2006, women in the United States spent $300 million on non-athletic footwear.
That would fund osteoporosis research at the National Institutes of Health for more than a year!
Sources: Market Research, May 2007; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Convenience Stores
Americans spent nearly $163 billion on non-fuel items in convenience stores in 2006.
That would fund the National Institutes of Health for more than five years!
Sources: National Association of Convenience Stores, April 2007; NIH FY08
Amusement Parks
U.S. amusement parks and attractions generate $12 billion in revenues each year.
That sum would fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more than 30 years!
Sources: International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; AHRQ FY 2010
Jewelry
Total sales of jewelry in the U.S. reached $65.9 billion in 2008.
That would fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than 10 years!
Sources: International Diamond Exchange; CDC FY08
Bottled Water
Americans spend more than $11 billion on bottled water each year.
That amount would the National Human Genome Research Institute for more than 22 years!
Sources: Beverage Marketing Corp.; NIH FY08
Cable TV
Cable TV revenues were estimated at $74.7 billion in 2007.
That could fund the all biotechnology research at the National Institutes of Health for seven years!
Sources: National Cable and Telecommunications Association; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Home Electronics
Home electronics use power even when they are turned off. Americans spent $1 billion a year in energy costs for idle appliances.
That sum would fund the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health for 15 years!
Sources: National Resources Defense Council, 2008; NIH FY08
Consumer Electronics
Americans spent more than $155 billion on consumer electronics in 2007.
That sum would fund the National Science Foundation for 24 years!
Sources: Consumer Electronic Association; NSF FY08
Men's Grooming Products
In 2006, Americans spent $4.8 billion on men's grooming products.
That would fund prostate cancer research at NIH for more than 13 years!
Sources: 2006 Market Research, Euromonitor; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
DVD Rentals & Purchases
Americans spent $24.1 billion on DVD rentals and purchases in 2006.
That would fund the National Eye Institute for more than 30 years.
Sources: The Digital Entertainment Group; NEI FY08
Consumer Electronics
Americans are expected to spend more than $155 billion on consumer electronics in 2007.
That would fund the National Science Foundation for 24 years!
Sources: Consumer Electronic Association; NSF FY08
Timeshares
U.S. timeshare sales reached $10 billion in 2006.
That amount would fund U.S. investment in global health research for more than a year!
Sources: "State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2007," ARDA International Foundation; Research!America Issue Paper: 2006 U.S. Investment in Global Health Research, 2007
MP3 Players
MP3 players generated $5.4 billion in revenue in 2007.
That amount would the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering for 20 years!
Sources: Consumer Electronics Association, 2007; NIH FY08
Video Games
Americans spent $13.5 billion on home video and computer games in 2006.
That sum would fund the Centers for Disease Control for one and a half years!
Sources: NPD Group Market Research, 2007; CDC FY08
Pet Services
Americans spent $2.9 billion on pet services such as grooming and boarding in 2007.
That amount would fund the National Institute of Nursing Research for 21 years!
Sources: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 2007; NIH FY08
Fast Food
The combined annual revenue for fast food restaurants in the U.S. is $120 billion.
That would fund the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more than three years!
Sources: Fast Food & Quick Service Restaurants. First Research Inc. August 2007; NIH FY08; CDC FY08
U.S. Box Office Receipts
The U.S. box office took in more than $10 billion in 2009.
That could fund the National Science Foundation for nearly 18 months!
Sources: Time "Box Office 2009: A very good year;" NSF FY 2010
Lawn and Garden Care
Americans spend more than $40 billion per year to maintain their lawns.
That could fund the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for 58 years! Sources: National Gardening Association; NIH FY08
Sources: Ted Steinberg, American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn; NIH FY 2010
Skin Diseases
The financial burden of skin diseases is $38.6 billion per year in medical services and lost productivity.
That could fund the National Cancer Institute at current levels for more than seven and a half years!
Sources: "The Burden of Skin Disease" A study commissioned by the AAD and SID and published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2006; NIH FY08
St. Patrick's Day
Americans spend an estimated $3.76 billion on St. Patrick's Day each year
That could fund the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality for more than 11 years!
Sources: National Retail Federation, 2007; AHRQ FY08
Halloween
Americans spend an estimated $4.95 billion on candy, costumes and decorations each year for Halloween
That would fund the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for more than 12 years!
Sources: National Retail Federation, 2006; NIDCR FY08
Christmas
American spent $8.5 billion decorating for Christmas in 2005.
That sum could fund eight years of diabetes research at the NIH!
Sources: Unity Marketing, 2006; NIH Disease Funding Table FY08
Have an idea for a Research Takes Cents? Let us know!