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

The nearly $72 billion in US revenue of alcoholic beverages in 2017 could fund all NIH-sponsored research on alcoholism, alcohol use and health for the next 143 years.

Sources: Statista, NIH

Athletes

The combined salaries of the top ten highest-paid athletes in 2017 totaled more than $620 million - enough to fund all NIH-sponsored head and spine injury research for more than 3 years.

Sources: Forbes, NIH

 

Bathing Suits

Annual U.S. spending on women’s two-piece bathing suits is $8 billion, which could all cervical and breast cancer research at the NIH for almost 10 years.

Sources: Statistic Brain , NIH

Coffee

The U.S. imported over $4 billion worth of coffee in 2017, one year of which could fund all NIH-sponsored research on sleep for over 12 years.

Sources: E-importz, NIH

 

Cosmetic Surgery

In 2017, Americans spent over $16 billion on elective cosmetic surgeries, which could fund all NIH research on aging for more than 4 years.

Sources: IBIS World, NIA

 

Disney Parks

Disney’s U.S. theme parks’ net income in 2017 was estimated to be $9 billion, which was $1 billion more than the budget request from the National Science Foundation for all research and related activities.

Sources: The Walt Disney Company, NSF 

Electronics

The highest valued American company, Apple, is estimated at $752 billion – enough money to fund all NIH-sponsored cancer research for nearly 125 years.

Sources: Statista, NIH

 

Fast Food

Americans spent almost $210 billion on fast food in 2017, which could fund all NIH cardiovascular and obesity-related research for 66 years.

Sources: Statista, NIH

Football

In 2017, the top five most valuable teams in the National Football League are worth an estimated $18 billion, nearly 3 times the amount of funding for NIH-sponsored neuroscience research.

Sources: Forbes, NIH

 

Gambling

The U.S. casino gaming market generated $73 billion in revenue in 2017, which could fund NIH-sponsored gene therapy research for more than 260 years.

Sources: Statista, NIH

Home Entertainment

Americans spent about $20 billion on home entertainment in 2017, an amount that could fund the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communications Disorders for nearly 50 years.

Sources: Statista, NIDCD

 

Ice Cream

In 2017, Americans spent $5.5 billion on ice cream – more than 3 times total funding for NIH-sponsored nutrition research.

Sources: Statista, NIH

Movies

In 2017, the U.S. domestic box office earned $11 billion, enough to fund the NIH-sponsored research for eye disease and vision disorders for nearly 13 years

 Sources: Box Office Mojo, NIH

 

Pizza

In 2017, Americans spent an estimated $47 billion on pizza, enough to fund the NIH-sponsored research on digestive diseases for over 25 years.

Sources: IBIS World, NIH

Restaurants

Americans spent $799 billion at restaurants in 2017. This could fund the FDA, the CDC, the NIH, and the NSF for about 15 years.

Sources: Toast, CDC, FDA, NSF, HHS

Super Bowl

In 2017, Americans spent $14 billion on Super Bowl-related purchases, which could fund the Food and Drug Administration for almost 3 years.

Sources: Statista, FDA

Tobacco

In 2017, the market value of US tobacco companies reached $121 billion – enough to fund NIH-sponsored research on lung cancer for more than 330 years.

Sources: Statista, NIH

 

Video Games

The US video, mobile, and digital game industry generated $36 billion in 2017, enough to fund all of the NIH-sponsored research on depression, suicide, and youth violence for nearly 70 years.

 

Sources: Statista, NIH

 

Women's Clothes

The $42 billion Americans spent in 2017 on women’s clothes could fund all of the NIH-sponsored research for women’s health for almost 9 years.

Sources: IBIS World, NIH

 

Seasonal

4th of July

In 2017, Americans spent over an estimated $7 billion on food for the Fourth of July. This could have funded NIH foodborne illness research for almost 60 years.

Sources: WalletHub, NIH

Back to School

In 2017, Americans spent nearly $84 billion for back-to-school and college shopping, which could fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 12 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation, CDC

Black Friday

Americans spent over $11 billion in Black Friday and Cyber Monday online sales in 2017 – enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more than 20 years.

Sources: Tech Crunch, Forbes, HHS

Father's Day

In 2017, Americans spent $15.5 billion on gifts for Father’s Day, which could fund all NIH-sponsored prostate and colorectal cancer research for 27 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation, NIH

 

Halloween

Americans spent $9.1 billion on Halloween in 2017, enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for 19.4 years!

Sources: National Retail Federation, HHS

 

March Madness

National TV advertising revenue during March Madness reached $1.3 billion in 2017. That amount could cover nearly 2,500 NIH Research Project Grants.

Sources: Statista, NIH

Mother's Day

In 2017, Americans spent nearly $24 billion on Mother’s Day, enough money to fund rare diseases research at NIH for over 5 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation, NIH

St. Patrick's Day

In 2017, Americans spent over $5 billion for St. Patrick’s Day, enough to fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s research on patient safety for almost 70 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation, HHS

 

 

Summer Camp

Last summer, the U.S. spent more than $3 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 $100 billion on summer vacation in 2017, enough money to fund The Fogarty International Center for global health research for more than 1,400 years.

Sources: Travel Agent Central, FIC

Thanksgiving

In 2017, the total value of turkeys raised in the US was nearly $5 billion. This amount could fund food safety monitoring activities at the Food and Drug Administration for over 15 years.

Sources: Fortune, FDA

 

Valentine's Day

In 2017, Americans spent over $18 billion on Valentine’s Day – which could fund NIH-sponsored research on heart disease for almost 14 years.

Sources: National Retail Federation, NIH

 

Winter Weather

Americans spent enough money on snowplow services ($19 billion) in 2017 to fund all NIH-sponsored research on Pneumonia and Influenza for almost 50 years.

Sources: IBIS World, NIH