Research Takes Cents

Research!America's signature Research Takes Cents compare selected consumer spending to the costs associated with conducting research. Research Takes Cents examples are easy to drop into a conversation, and they are particularly effective when used in presentations with images.

Examples:

General Topics

Alcohol

In 2019, the US spent nearly $252 billion on alcoholic beverages which could fund all NIH-sponsored research on alcoholism, alcohol use, and health for the next 453 years.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Athletes

The combined salaries of the top ten highest-paid athletes in 2020 totaled more than $819 million - enough to fund all NIH-sponsored head and spine injury research for more than 3 years.

Sources: Forbes/NIH

Coffee

The U.S. imported over $5.2 billion worth of coffee in 2019, one year of which could fund all NIH-sponsored research on sleep for 12 years.

Sources: WorldsTopExports/NIH

Cosmetic Surgery

In 2019, Americans spent over $18 billion on cosmetic procedures, which could fund research on aging at NIH for nearly 4 years.

Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons/NIH

Electronics

The highest valued American company, Apple, is estimated at $1.84 trillion – enough money to fund all NIH-sponsored cancer research for nearly 258 years.

Sources: CNBC/NIH

Fast Food

Americans spent almost $293 billion on fast food in 2020, which could fund all NIH cardiovascular and obesity-related research for 80 years.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Football

In 2020, the top five most valuable teams in the National Football League are worth an estimated $22 billion, just over twice the amount of funding for NIH-sponsored neuroscience research.

Sources: Forbes/NIH

Gambling

The U.S. casino gaming market generated $109 billion in revenue from 2019 to 2020, which could fund NIH-sponsored opioid misuse and addiction research for almost 178 years.

Sources: Research&Markets/NIH

Home Entertainment

Americans spent about $25 billion on home entertainment in 2019, an amount that could fund all NIH-sponsored research on behavioral and social sciences for 10 years.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Ice Cream

In 2019, Americans spent $6 billion on ice cream – more than 3 times total funding for NIH-sponsored nutrition research.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Music Industry

In 2019, the U.S. recorded music business generated $11 billion in revenue. This amount could fund women’s health research for almost 3 years.

Sources: Billboard/NIH

Pizza

In 2019, Americans spent an estimated $46 billion on pizza, enough to fund the NIH-sponsored research on digestive diseases for over 21 years.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Restaurants

Americans spent $863 billion at restaurants in 2019. This amount could fund the FDA, the CDC, the NIH, and the NSF for about 15 years.

Sources: Toast/FDA/CDC/NIH/NSF

Streaming Services

Americans spent roughly $16 billion on subscription streaming services in 2019-- enough to fund all NIH-sponsored mental health research for almost 5 years.

Sources: Cord Cutters News/NIH

Super Bowl

In 2020, Americans spent $17 billion on Super Bowl-related purchases, which could fund the Food and Drug Administration for almost 3 years.

Sources: Statista/FDA

Swimwear

The U.S. swimwear and beachwear market is estimated at $5.3 billion in 2020, which could fund all NIH-sponsored research on climate change and climate-related exposures and conditions research for almost 15 years.

Sources: Yahoo Finance/NIH

Tobacco

In 2019, the market value of US tobacco manufacturing companies increased to $48 billion – enough to fund NIH-sponsored research on lung cancer for more than 24 years.

Sources: IBIS World/NIH

Photo credit: Lindsay Fox at EcigaretteReviewed.com

Video Games

In 2019, U.S. video game content generated just over $35 billion in revenue, enough to fund all of the NIH-sponsored research on depression, suicide, and youth violence for 47 years.

Sources: ESA/NIH

Seasonal

4th of July

In 2019, Americans spent an estimated $7 billion on food for the Fourth of July. This could have funded NIH foodborne illness research for almost 50 years.

Sources: WalletHub/NIH

Back to School

In 2020, Americans spent nearly $102 billion for back-to-school and college shopping, which could fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for almost 15 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation/CDC

Black Friday

Americans spent over $16 billion in Black Friday and Cyber Monday online sales in 2019 – enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more than 30 years.

Sources: PracticalEcommerce/AHRQ

Father's Day

In 2020, Americans spent $17 billion on gifts for Father’s Day, which could fund NIH-sponsored prostate cancer research for almost 60 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation/NIH

Halloween

Americans will spend an estimated $10.14 billion on Halloween this year, almost double the $5.25 billion NIH will invest in 2021 in research on dental/oral and craniofacial disease, diabetes, eating disorders, food allergies, nutrition, and obesity combined!

Sources: National Retail Federation/NIH

March Madness

In 2019, TV ad spending during March Madness was approximately $910 million. That amount could fund over 1,600 NIH Research Project Grants.

Sources: Statista/NIH

Mother's Day

In 2020, Americans spent nearly $27 billion on Mother’s Day, enough money to fund rare diseases research at NIH for over 4 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation/NIH

St. Patrick's Day

In 2020, Americans spent over $6 billion for St. Patrick’s Day, enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s research on patient safety for over 80 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation/AHRQ

Summer Camp

In 2019, the U.S. spent nearly $4 billion on summer camp for children – which could fund the NIH’s pediatric research program for almost 8 years.

Sources: IBIS World/ NIH

Summer Vacation

Americans spent over $101 billion on summer vacation in 2019, enough money to fund the Fogarty International Center for global health research for more than 1,442 years.

Sources: PR Newswire/FIC

Thanksgiving

In 2019, the total value of turkeys raised in the US was just over $4 billion. This amount could fund food safety activities at the Food and Drug Administration for 3 years.

Sources: US Poultry/FDA

Valentine's Day

In 2020, Americans spent over $20 billion on Valentine’s Day – which could fund NIH-sponsored research on heart disease for over 13 years.

Sources: National Retail Foundation/NIH

Winter Weather

In 2019, Americans spent 20 billion on snow plow services, enough to fund all NIH-sponsored research on Pneumonia and Influenza for just over 35 years.

Sources: IBIS World/NIH