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 PowerPoint slides to use in their own presentations.
The economic impact of NIH research finding is based on information found in FamiliesUSA's "In Your Own Backyard" report. Find more at www.familiesusa.org/issues/global-health/publications/backyard-key-findings.html.
Research Takes Cents Examples:
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
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 $78 billion each year.
That could fund the National Institutes of Health for nearly three years!
Sources: Texas Transportation Institution, 2007; NIH FY08
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
America’s wedding industry exceeds $161 billion annually.
That amount would fund the entire NIH budget for more than five years! Sources: One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding, 2008; NIH FY08
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 $11.5 billion in revenues each year.
That would fund the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for more than nine years!
Sources: International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 2007; NICHD FY08
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
U.S. box office receipts were $9.6 billion in 2008.
That could fund the National Science Foundation for a year and a half!
Sources: Box Office Mojo; NSF FY08
Lawn and Garden Care
Americans spent more than $35 billion on lawn and garden care in 2007.
That amount would the National Institutes of Health for more than a year!
Sources: National Gardening Association; NIH FY08
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
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