NPR : Helium Shortage Looms for United States
Helium balloon fans — of whatever age — shouldn’t worry about a shortage, however: The balloons suck up only 8 percent of the helium stock.
Well, that’s good to hear. I don’t know what we’d do without helium balloons. It’s a little surprising, though, that 8 percent of all the helium in the country is used for balloons. I mean, not to knock birthday decorations and whatnot, but do we really need to use that much for something that lasts only a few days at best?