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.
Research Takes Cents Examples:
Traffic Jams
In 2007, Americans wasted $78 billion sitting in traffic.
That could fund research at the National Cancer Institute for more than 15 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 Estimate
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
Christmas Decorations
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 Estimate
Plasma TVs:
Americans spent $7.1 billion on plasma TV sets in 2006.
That would fund the National Eye Institute for more than ten years!
Sources: "Quixel Plasma TV market Review for Q4 2006," Quixel Research; National Eye Institute, FY08 Budget Request
Weddings:
Americans spent an estimated $58.5 billion on weddings in 2006.
That would fund the entire National Institutes of Health budget for two years!
Sources: U.S. Wedding Statistics & Market Estimates, 2006; NIH Budget Estimate, FY07
Energy Drinks:
The energy drink market was estimated at $3.2 billion in 2006.
That would fund the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research for eight years!
Sources: Mintel market research; National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, FY08 Budget Request
Teen Spending:
In 2006, teenagers rang up $179 billion in sales.
That would fund the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for 140 years!
Sources: Teen Research Unlimited; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, FY08 Budget Request
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 Estimate
Ringtones:
Americans are expected to spend $550 million for ringtones in 2007.
This could fund the entire budget for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for more than a year!
Sources: Broadcast Music, Inc, March 2007; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, FY07 Budget Request
Fragrances:
The women's fragrance industry was estimated at $4.2 billion in 2006.
That would fund asthma research at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 15 years!
Sources: Research and Markets, November 2006; NIH Disease Funding Table, FY08 Estimate
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; President's FY08 Budget Request, Department of Health and Human Services
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 almost two years!
Sources: Market Research, May 2007; NIH Disease Funding Table, FY08 Estimate
Amusement Parks
In 2006, U.S. amusement parks and attractions generated $11.5 billion in revenues.
That would fund the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for nine years!
Sources: International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 2007; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, FY08 Budget Estimate
Jewelry:
Total sales of jewelry in the U.S. reached $63 billion in 2006.
That would fund cancer research at the National Institutes of Health for more than 11 years!
Sources: IDEX Online Research; NIH Disease Funding Table, FY08 Estimate
Bottled Water:
Americans spent an estimated $11 billion on bottled water in 2006.
That would fund the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences for 17 years!
Sources: Beverage Marketing Corp; National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, FY08 Budget Request
Cable TV
Cable TV revenues are estimated to reach $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 Estimate
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 Estimate
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; National Eye Institute, FY08 Budget Estimate
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 Budget Estimate, 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; "2006 U.S. Investment in Global Health Research," Research!America
MP3 Players:
MP3 players are projected to earn $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; National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, FY 08 Budget Estimate
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; Centers for Disease Control, FY 2008 President's Budget Request
Pet Services
Americans will spend $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; National Institute of Nursing Research, FY 08 Congressional Budget Justification
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