Federal Trade Commission

Cigarette Report

for 2017

 

ISSUED: 2019
1 

I. INTRODUCTION

This report is the latest in a series on cigarette sales, advertising, and promotion that the 

Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) has prepared since 1967. 

The tables appended to this report provide information on domestic cigarette sales and 

advertising and promotional activity by the largest manufacturers.1 The 2017 sales and expenditure 

information in the tables was compiled from data contained in special reports submitted to the 

Commission pursuant to compulsory process by the parent companies of the major manufacturers 

of cigarettes sold in the United States: Altria Group, Inc.; ITG Holdings USA Inc.; Reynolds 

American, Inc.; and Vector Group Ltd.2

II. TOTAL SALES AND ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES 

The total number of cigarettes reported sold by the major manufacturers, 229.1 billion in 

2017, decreased by 11.4 billion units (4.7 percent) from 2016. Advertising and promotional 

expenditures decreased during that same period, from $8.706 billion to $8.637 billion. The largest 

single category of these expenditures in 2017 was price discounts paid to cigarette retailers in order 

to reduce the price of cigarettes to consumers, which accounted for $6.189 billion (71.7 percent of 

total advertising and promotional expenditures). 

III. CIGARETTES SOLD AND GIVEN AWAY

Tables 1A and 1B display the manufacturers’ annual cigarette sales to wholesalers and 

 

 1 The data contained in the tables appended to this report are also in an electronic spreadsheet 

available at https://www.ftc.gov/cigarettedata. 

 The advertising and promotional expenditure figures contained in this report and in the 

electronic spreadsheet are in nominal dollars and have not been adjusted for inflation. 

 2

 The number and identity of the companies reporting cigarette data has varied over the many 

years that the Commission has issued these reports. 
2 

retailers. Table 1B displays the total number of cigarettes sold and given away in the years 2001 

through 2017. In 2017, the major cigarette manufacturers sold 229.1 billion cigarettes domestically, 

down from 240.5 billion in 2016. The Commission is not reporting the number of cigarettes given 

away3 in 2017 because only one company reported such giveaways.4 In 2016, 7.8 million cigarettes

were given away.

IV. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY

Tables 2A through 2G show the amounts spent on cigarette advertising and promotion for 

the years 1970 and 1975 through 2017.5 These tables list the amounts spent on the different types 

of media advertising (e.g., magazines) and sales promotion activities (e.g., distribution of coupons) 

and also give the percentage of the total amount spent for each of the various types of advertising 

and promotion. 

Table 2G shows that, overall, the major manufacturers spent $8.637 billion on cigarette 

advertising and promotion in 2017, a decrease from the $8.706 billion spent in 2016.6 

 

 3 Cigarettes given away include all cigarettes distributed for free, whether through sampling, 

coupons for free product, or “buy 3 packs, get 1 free” type offers, for consumer research, or 

otherwise, as long as those cigarettes were not reported as sold. For years prior to 2001, the 

Commission required the manufacturers to report the number of cigarettes they sold but not the 

number they gave away. It is possible that in those earlier years, some manufacturers included in 

their sales figures some cigarettes that were actually given away.

 4 When only one company reports in a category, the Commission does not report this 

information in order to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data. 

 5 The expenditure data reported in these tables were not collected in their present form until 

1975, at which time the Commission asked the companies to re-report their 1970 expenditures 

using the then-new advertising and promotional expenditure categories. 

 The reported figures include all advertising and promotional expenditures related to 

cigarettes, regardless of whether such expenditures would constitute “commercial speech” or 

would be protected from law enforcement action under the First Amendment. 

 6 Definitions of the 2017 advertising and promotional expenditure categories appear in the 

Appendix to this report. If only one company reported spending money on a particular type of 
3 

The Commission is not reporting the amount spent on newspaper advertising in 2017 

because, as in each year since 2012, only one company reported spending in that category. The 

companies reported spending $14.9 million on magazine advertising in 2017, a decrease from the 

$19.9 million they spent in 2016. Spending on “outdoor” advertising increased from $1.7 million in 

2016 to $1.8 million in 2017.7

 Spending on point-of-sale materials (ads posted at the retail location 

but excluding outdoor ads on retailer property), which was $51.9 million in 2016, decreased to 

$48.5 million in 2017. The companies reported spending $34.6 million for direct mail advertising 

in 2017, down from $40.0 million in 2016.8

In 2017, the companies reported spending $6.189 billion on price discounts (payments made 

in order to reduce the price of cigarettes to consumers) paid to retailers and $1.195 billion on price 

discounts paid to wholesalers.9 In 2016, expenditures in those categories were $5.806 billion and 

 

advertising or promotion, that category appears as “N/A” in the table, and the expenditures are 

included in the “Other” category, to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data. For 

this reason, the Commission is not separately reporting the amounts spent in 2017 on newspaper 

advertising, promotional allowances paid other than to retailers or wholesalers, sampling, retailvalue-added promotions involving non-cigarette items, Internet advertising other than on the 

company’s own websites, or telephone advertising. 

 7 Since 2002, “outdoor” advertising has been defined to mean billboards; signs and placards in 

arenas, stadiums, and shopping malls (whether they are open air or enclosed); and any other 

advertisements placed outdoors, regardless of their size, including those on cigarette retailer 

property. Before 2002, “outdoor” advertising was not precisely defined and it was not clear that 

signs in arenas, stadiums, shopping malls, or on retailer property were to be reported in this 

category.

 Starting with its orders for 2014, the Commission ceased collecting data on transit advertising 

(advertising on or in vehicles, bus stops, taxi stands, or transportation facilities) because the 

recipients of the orders had not reported expenditures on transit advertising since 2000. 

 8

 The companies are asked to report the cost of coupons sent by direct mail in the coupons 

category.

 9 Examples of price discounts include off-invoice discounts, buy downs, and voluntary price 

reductions.
4 

$1.441 billion, respectively. Retail and wholesale price discounts were the two largest expenditure 

categories in 2017, representing a combined 85.5 percent of total expenditures (71.7 percent and 

13.8 percent, respectively).

Spending on promotional allowances (intended to facilitate the sale or placement of 

cigarettes) paid to cigarette retailers (e.g., payments for stocking, shelving, displaying, and 

merchandising brands, volume rebates, and incentive payments) decreased from $228.8 million in 

2016 to $186.9 million in 2017. Spending on promotional allowances paid to cigarette wholesalers 

(e.g., payments for volume rebates, incentive payments, value-added services, and promotional 

executions) declined from $395.9 million in 2016 to $376.1 million in 2017. The Commission is 

not reporting the amount spent on promotional allowances paid to persons other than retailers or 

wholesalers in 2017 because, as in each year since 2012, only one company reported spending in 

that category.

When price discounts and promotional allowances paid to cigarette retailers and wholesalers 

are combined, they total $7.947 billion and account for 92.0 percent of all 2017 advertising and 

promotional expenditures. 

The Commission is not reporting the amount spent in 2017 on cigarette sampling because

only one company reported spending in that category.10 In 2016, the companies reported spending 

$53,000 on sampling.

 

 10 Although regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration pursuant to the Family 

Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“Tobacco Control Act”) prohibited sampling 

effective in mid-2010, see 21 C.F.R. § 1140.16(d), companies have continued to report sampling 

expenditures because the Commission defines “sampling” to include the distribution of cigarettes 

for consumer testing or evaluation outside the company’s facility. 

 The Commission’s compulsory-process orders for 2017 clarified that expenditures associated 

with coupons for free cigarettes distributed during consumer engagement should be reported as 

“sampling,” not consumer engagement. 
5 

In 2017, $79.5 million was spent on non-branded specialty-item distribution in connection 

with the marketing or promotion of cigarettes, a decrease from the $96.0 million spent in 2016.11

The companies reported spending $36.0 million in 2017 on consumer engagement at 

cigarette retail locations open to underage individuals (e.g., at convenience stores), a decrease from 

the $38.2 million spent in 2016. They also reported spending $47.3 million on consumer 

engagement in adult-only facilities, a decrease from the $66.1 million spent in 2016. 

The companies reported that they spent no money in 2017 on public entertainment events 

that take place in adult-only facilities (e.g., sponsorship of bar nights or concerts) and display the 

name or logo of a company’s cigarettes or otherwise refer to cigarettes. With its order for 2016, the 

Commission clarified that such events must include actual entertainment, as opposed to simply 

consumer engagement.12 The Commission did not report expenditures on adult-only public 

 

 11 Specialty-item distribution includes the practice of selling or giving to consumers noncigarette items, such as T-shirts, caps, sunglasses, key chains, lighters, and sporting goods. 

When the distribution of such items is combined with the sale of cigarettes, such as when a noncigarette item is blister-packed to packages of cigarettes, the associated expenditures are reported 

under retail-value-added. 

Pursuant to the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement with the attorneys general of 46 

states, major tobacco companies, including all those from which the Commission then collected 

cigarette advertising and promotional data, agreed not to distribute branded non-tobacco 

promotional items. Subsequently, the distribution of such items was also prohibited by 

regulations promulgated pursuant to the Tobacco Control Act. See 21 C.F.R. § 1140.34(a). 

Nevertheless, due to misunderstandings, some of the companies misreported for a number of 

years that they incurred expenses for branded specialty-item distribution. Because all such 

expenditures were misreported, the Commission has deleted the branded specialty-item 

distribution category from Tables 2A through 2G and reallocated the expenditures in that 

category pursuant to instructions from the individual companies. Where the companies were 

unable to properly reallocate the expenditures, they were moved to the “Other” expenditure 

category.

 12 The Commission learned that the companies had been reporting consumer engagement in adultonly facilities under this adult-only public entertainment category even when such activities did not 

entail any entertainment. Also, at some point, the companies stopped sponsoring any entertainment 

in adult-only facilities. We are unable to distinguish prior expenditures on adult-only entertainment 

from those on adult-only consumer engagement. 
6 

entertainment in 2016, because only one company reported spending in that category. 

For 2015 through 2017, the companies reported that they made no expenditures on public 

entertainment events taking place outside of adult-only facilities.

As they have since 2010, all reporting companies stated that in 2017 they spent no money on 

sponsorships.13 Since 1989, all of the companies have stated that they spent no money on 

endorsements and testimonials.14

The companies reported spending $301.9 million in 2017 on coupons to reduce the retail 

cost of cigarettes, a decrease from the $380.0 million spent in 2016.15

Retail-value-added expenditures are the costs associated with offers such as “buy one, get 

one free” and “buy three, get a free T-shirt,” where the bonus is distributed to consumers at retail 

when the cigarettes are purchased. As they have each year since 2011, the companies reported 

spending no money in 2017 on retail-value-added involving bonus cigarettes. Each year from 2010 

until 2015, the companies reported spending no money on retail-value-added promotions involving 

non-cigarette items. In 2016, the Commission expanded this category to include discounts such as 

“buy two, save 20 cents per gallon of gasoline,” and the companies reported spending $633,000. 

The Commission is not reporting the amount spent on retail-value-added expenditures for 

 

 13 Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Tobacco Control Act and effective since mid-2010 

prohibit tobacco-brand sponsorships of “any athletic, musical, artistic, or other social or cultural 

event, or any entry or team in any event.” 21 C.F.R. § 1140.34(c). 

 14 The Commission’s compulsory-process orders for 2017 clarified that the “endorsements” 

category, which covers product placements, includes product placements in video games. 

 15 When coupons are distributed for free cigarettes and no purchase is required to redeem them, 

such activities are reported as “sampling,” not as “coupons.” 

 The Commission’s compulsory-process orders for 2017 clarified that expenditures associated 

with coupons that reduce the retail cost of cigarettes should be reported in the “coupon” category, 

regardless of how the coupons are distributed or redeemed. 
7 

promotions involving free or discounted non-cigarette items in 2017 because only one company 

reported spending in that category. 

In 2017, the companies reported spending $25.1 million on advertising on company 

websites, a decrease from the $27.7 million they reported in 2016. As in 2016, the Commission is 

not separately reporting the amount spent in 2017 on Internet advertising other than on company 

websites because only one company reported spending in that category. 

The Commission is not reporting expenditures on telephone advertising in 2017 because 

only one company reported spending in that category, as was the case in 2016. This category 

includes costs associated with telemarketing calls or the operation of incoming telephone lines for 

consumers to participate in promotions or hear pre-recorded product messages.

Since 2013, the companies have reported that they made no expenditures on audio-visual 

advertising. 

The companies reported no spending in 2017 on “social media marketing on Web sites or 

other online services or communities, including but not limited to social networking sites, 

microblogging sites, content-sharing sites, and blogs,” just as they have each year since the 

Commission started requesting these data in 2009. 

The Commission also requires the cigarette manufacturers to report the amounts they spent 

on advertising and promotion in connection with sports and sporting events.16 This question is 

separate from, and duplicative of, the reporting of the individual advertising and promotion 

 

 16 This includes expenditures for: (1) the sponsoring, advertising, or promotion of sports or 

sporting events; support of an individual, group, or sports team; and purchase of or support for 

equipment, uniforms, sports facilities, or training facilities; (2) advertising in the name of the 

cigarette company or any of its brands in a sports facility, on a scoreboard, or in conjunction with 

the reporting of sports results; and (3) functional promotional items (clothing, hats, etc.) connected 

with a sporting event. 
8 

categories. For example, money spent on sponsorship of a sports team would be reported under the 

“sponsorship” category and as “sports and sporting events” expenditures. These expenditures are 

counted only once, however, in computing the companies’ total advertising and promotional 

expenditures. 

From 2010 through 2014, the companies reported that they did not spend any money 

advertising and promoting sports and sporting events. The Commission’s compulsory-process 

orders for 2015 clarified that the companies should report all advertising and promotional 

expenditures “connected with or related to” sports or sporting events, including cigarette sampling 

in an adult-only facility on the grounds or in the parking lot of a sports facility. In 2016, the orders 

further clarified that the companies should also report “consumer engagement” on the grounds or lot 

of a sports facility. The companies reported spending nothing in 2017 connected with or related to 

sports or sporting events, down from the $498,000 reported in 2016.

Since 2001, the Commission has required the manufacturers to report expenditures on 

advertisements directed to youth or their parents that are intended to reduce youth smoking. The 

companies reported spending $1.9 million in 2017.17 Over the previous fourteen years, these 

expenditures ranged from a high of $74.2 million in 2002 to a low of $1.7 million in 2014. These 

figures do not include contributions to third parties that engage in such programs.

 

 17 These expenditures are not included in the $8.637 billion reported in Table 2G (cigarette

advertising and promotional expenditures by category for 2017). 

The cigarette manufacturers reported that neither they nor anyone working for them or on 

their behalf paid money or any other form of compensation in connection with the production or 

filming of any motion picture, television show, or video game in 2017 or paid money or any other 

form of compensation to anyone engaged in product placement in motion pictures, television shows, 
9 

or video games. The companies also reported that neither they nor anyone working for them or on 

their behalf sought, solicited, granted approval, or otherwise gave permission for the appearance of 

any cigarette product or cigarette brand imagery in any motion picture, television show, or video 

game. The Commission asked the companies to report whether they or anyone working for them or 

on their behalf: (1) sought, solicited, granted approval, or otherwise gave permission for the 

appearance of any cigarette product or cigarette brand imagery in any video appearing on the 

Internet; or (2) engaged in social-media marketing that promoted any cigarette brand or variety or 

used cigarette brand imagery. Two companies reported having video advertising on companyoperated cigarette brand websites, and one reported allowing the posting of user-generated content 

on such websites. 

The expenditure data reported in Tables 2 through 2G were not collected in their present 

form until 1975. Table 3 reports advertising expenditures from 1963 through 1974 in the form in 

which they were then collected. 

V. TAR YIELDS, FILTERS, LENGTH, AND FLAVOR

Tables 4A and 4B give the domestic market shares of cigarettes with tar yields of 15 mg or 

less among the major manufacturers for the years 1967 through 2016. The data for the years since 

1982 are further broken down into sub-categories according to tar yields (e.g., 3 mg or less, 6 mg or 

less, etc.), and the sub-categories are presented cumulatively. The Commission has ceased 

collecting tar-yield data. The Commission also notes that its compulsory-process orders requesting 

data for 2011 through 2016 required the companies only to report tar-yield data that they had 

available and did not require them to conduct testing. Consequently, share comparisons within 

those years or to previous years may not be reliable.

As shown in Tables 5A and 5B, filtered cigarettes have dominated the market among the 
10 

major manufacturers since the Commission began collecting this information in 1963. Filtered 

cigarettes accounted for 99.7 percent of the market among the major manufacturers in 2017. 

Tables 6A and 6B provide the share of the various cigarette-length categories. The King

size (79–88 mm) category continues to be the biggest seller, with 56 percent of the market among 

the major manufacturers in 2017. This category is followed by the Long (94–101 mm) group, with 

41 percent.

Tables 7A and 7B give the market share of menthol and non-menthol cigarettes. In 2017, 

menthol cigarettes were 36 percent of the market among the major manufacturers, while nonmenthols were 64 percent.

Table 8A shows the percentage of cigarettes that disclosed both tar and nicotine yields on 

their packs during the years 1994 through 2001; Table 8B shows the percentage that disclosed tar 

yields from 2002 to 2011. From 2008 to 2016, no major manufacturer disclosed tar yields on its 

cigarette packs. The Commission has ceased asking about on-pack tar- or nicotine-yield 

disclosures. 
TABLE 1A 

TOTAL DOMESTIC CIGARETTE UNIT SALES (1963–2000) 

(IN BILLIONS OF INDIVIDUAL CIGARETTES)

YEAR

TOTAL SALES REPORTED BY 

CIGARETTE 

MANUFACTURERS*

UNIT CHANGE

FROM PRIOR YEAR

% CHANGE

FROM PRIOR YEAR

USDA CIGARETTE

CONSUMPTION ESTIMATES

1963 516.5 – – 523.9

1964 505.0 (11.5) (2.2) 511.2

1965 521.1 16.1 3.2 528.7

1966 529.9 8.8 1.7 541.2

1967 535.8 5.9 1.1 549.2

1968 540.3 4.5 .8 545.7

1969 527.9 (12.4) (2.3) 528.9

1970 534.2 6.3 1.1 536.4

1971 547.2 13.0 2.4 555.1

1972 561.7 14.5 2.7 566.8

1973 584.7 23.0 4.1 589.7

1974 594.5 9.8 1.7 599.0

1975 603.2 8.7 1.5 607.2

1976 609.9 6.7 1.1 613.5

1977 612.6 2.7 .4 617.0

1978 615.3 2.7 .4 616.0

1979 621.8 6.5 1.1 621.5

1980 628.2 6.4 1.0 631.5

1981 636.5 8.3 1.3 640.0

1982 632.5 (4.0) (.6) 634.0

1983 603.6 (28.9) (4.6) 600.0

1984 608.4 4.8 .8 600.4

1985 599.3 (9.1) (1.5) 594.0

1986 586.4 (12.9) (2.2) 583.8

1987 575.4 (11.0) (1.9) 575.0

1988 560.7 (14.7) (2.6) 562.5

1989 525.6 (35.1) (6.3) 540.0

1990 523.7 (1.9) (.4) 525.0

1991 510.9 (12.8) (2.4) 510.0

1992 506.4 (4.5) (.9) 500.0

1993 461.4 (45.0) (8.9) 485.0

1994 490.2 28.8 6.2 486.0

1995 482.3 (7.9) (1.6) 487.0

1996 484.1 1.8 0.4 487.0

1997 478.6 (5.5) (1.1) 480.0

1998 458.6 (20.1) (4.2) 465.0

1999 411.3 (47.2) (10.3) 435.0

2000 413.9 2.6 .6 430.0

* Cigarettes sold by manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers within the United States and to armed forces personnel stationed outside the United States.
TABLE 1B 

TOTAL DOMESTIC CIGARETTE UNITS SOLD AND GIVEN AWAY (2001–2017) 

(IN BILLIONS OF INDIVIDUAL CIGARETTES)

YEAR

UNITS 

SOLD*

UNITS 

GIVEN 

AWAY**

TOTAL NUMBER 

SOLD AND GIVEN 

AWAY AS REPORTED 

BY MANUFACTURERS

UNIT 

CHANGE IN SOLD 

(AND GIVEN 

AWAY) 

FROM PRIOR

YEAR***

PERCENT

CHANGE IN SOLD 

(AND GIVEN 

AWAY) 

FROM PRIOR

YEAR***

USDA 

CIGARETTE 

CONSUMPTION 

ESTIMATES

2001 398.3 3.9 402.2 – – 425.0

2002 376.4 11.1 387.4 (14.8) (3.7) 415.0

2003 360.5 7.1 367.6 (19.8) (5.1) 400.0

2004 361.3 2.1 363.4 (4.2) (1.1) 388.0

2005 351.6 3.0 354.6 (8.8) (2.4) 376.0

2006 343.3 7.2 350.5 (4.1) (1.2) 371.0

2007 337.7 5.0 342.8 (7.7) (2.2)  

2008 320.0 2.7 322.6 (20.2) (5.9) ** **

2009 290.6 0.1 290.7 (31.9) (9.9)  

2010 282.9 0.1 282.9 (7.8) (2.7) ** **

2011 274.4 N/A N/A (8.5) (3.0)  

2012 268.4 N/A N/A (6.0) (2.2) ** **

2013 255.2 N/A N/A (13.1) (4.9)  

2014 254.7 N/A N/A (0.5) (0.2) ** **

2015 244.2 N/A N/A (10.5) (4.1)  

2016 240.5 0.01 240.5 (3.7) (1.5) ** **

2017 229.1 N/A N/A (11.4) (4.7) ****

* Cigarettes sold by manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers within the United States and to armed forces personnel stationed outside the United States. 

** Cigarettes given away within the United States and to armed forces personnel stationed outside the United States. Prior to 2001, the Commission did not ask 

about cigarettes given away, although some cigarettes given away might have been reported as sold.

*** For 2002 through 2010, the changes reported are cigarettes sold and given away, combined. For 2011 through 2017, the changes reported are in cigarettes sold.

**** USDA ceased reporting these data.
TABLE 2A

DOMESTIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR YEARS 1970, 1975–1985 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

1970 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985

Newspapers $14,026 $104,460 $155,808 $190,677 $186,947 $240,978 $304,380 $358,096 $282,897 $200,563 $193,519 $203,527

3.9% 21.3% 24.4% 24.5% 21.4% 22.2% 24.5% 23.1% 15.8% 10.6% 9.2% 8.2%

Magazines $50,018 $131,199 $148,032 $173,296 $184,236 $257,715 $266,208 $291,227 $349,229 $388,365 $425,912 $395,129

13.9% 26.6% 23.2% 22.2% 21.1% 23.8% 21.4% 18.8% 19.5% 20.4% 20.3% 16.0%

Outdoor $7,338 $84,329 $102,689 $120,338 $149,010 $162,966 $193,333 $228,081 $266,925 $295,226 $284,972 $300,233

2.0% 17.2% 16.1% 15.4% 17.0% 15.0% 15.6% 14.7% 14.9% 15.5% 13.6% 12.1%

Transit $5,354 $10,852 $19,341 $21,530 $22,899 $21,151 $26,160 $21,931 $24,135 $26,652 $25,817 $33,136

1.5% 2.2% 3.0% 2.8% 2.6% 2.1% 2.0% 1.4% 1.3% 1.4% 1.2% 1.3%

Point-of-Sale $11,663 $35,317 $44,176 $46,220 $57,384 $66,096 $79,799 $98,968 $116,954 $170,059 $167,279 $142,921

3.2% 7.2% 6.9% 5.9% 6.6% 6.1% 6.4% 6.4% 6.5% 8.9% 8.0% 5.8%

Promotional Allowances $33,789 $72,018 $82,523 $108,227 $125,148 $137,111 $179,094 $229,077 $272,269 $366,153 $363,247 $548,877

9.4% 14.7% 12.9% 13.9% 14.3% 12.7% 14.4% 14.8% 15.2% 19.3% 17.3% 22.2%

Sampling Distribution $11,775 $24,196 $40,390 $47,683 $47,376 $64,286 $50,459 $81,522 $141,178 $125,968 $148,031 $140,565

3.3% 4.9% 6.3% 6.1% 5.4% 5.9% 4.1% 5.3% 7.9% 6.6% 7.1% 5.7%

Specialty-Item Distribution $5,652 $10,088 $20,030 $35,797 $48,281 $62,029 $69,248 $115,107 $95,246 $127,186 $140,431 $211,429

2.6% 2.1% 3.1% 4.6% 5.5% 5.7% 5.6% 7.5% 5.3% 6.6% 6.7% 8.5%

Public Entertainment $544 $8,484 $7,946 $9,538 $11,590 $10,783 $16,914 $37,423 $63,168 $76,648 $59,988 $57,581

0.2% 1.7% 1.3% 1.2% 1.3% 1.0% 1.4% 2.4% 3.5% 4.0% 2.9% 2.3%

Other** $220,841 $10,311 $18,182 $26,157 $42,100 $60,310 $56,694 $86,226 $181,813 $123,951 $286,035 $443,043

61.1% 2.0% 2.8% 3.4% 4.8% 5.6% 4.6% 5.6% 10.1% 6.5% 13.7% 17.9%

Total $361,000 $491,254 $639,117 $779,463 $874,972 $1,083,425 $1,242,288 $1,547,658 $1,793,814 $1,900,771 $2,095,231 $2,476,441

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent.

** Includes TV and Radio advertising expenditures of $207,324,000 and $12,492,000, respectively, for 1970. Broadcast advertising was banned after January 1, 1971. Expenditures for direct mail, 

endorsements, testimonials, and audio-visual are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.
TABLE 2B

DOMESTIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR YEARS 1986–1995 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995

Newspapers $119,629 $95,810 $105,783 $76,993 $71,174 $48,212 $35,467 $36,220 $24,143 $19,122

5.0% 3.7% 3.2% 2.1% 1.8% 1.0% 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 0.4%

Magazines $340,160 $317,748 $355,055 $380,393 $328,143 $278,110 $237,061 $235,253 $251,644 $248,848

14.3% 12.3% 10.8% 10.5% 8.2% 6.0% 4.5% 3.9% 5.2% 5.1%

Outdoor $301,822 $269,778 $319,293 $358,583 $375,627 $386,165 $295,657 $231,481 $240,024 $273,664

12.7% 10.5% 9.7% 9.9% 9.4% 8.3% 5.7% 3.8% 5.0% 5.6%

Transit $34,725 $35,822 $44,379 $52,294 $60,249 $60,163 $53,293 $39,117 $29,323 $22,543

1.5% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.5% 1.3% 1.0% 0.6% 0.6% 0.5%

Point-of-Sale $135,541 $153,494 $222,289 $241,809 $303,855 $344,580 $366,036 $400,943 $342,650 $259,035

5.7% 5.9% 6.8% 6.7% 7.6% 7.4% 7.0% 6.6% 7.1% 5.3%

Direct Mail $187,057 $187,931 $42,545 $45,498 $51,875 $65,002 $34,345 $31,463 $31,187 $34,618

7.9% 7.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.3% 1.4% 0.7% 0.5% 0.7% 0.7%

Promotional Allowances $630,036 $702,430 $879,703 $999,843 $1,021,427 $1,156,280 $1,514,026 $1,557,635 $1,678,917 $1,865,657

26.4% 27.2% 26.9% 27.6% 25.6% 24.9% 28.9% 25.8% 34.7% 38.1%

Sampling Distribution $98,866 $55,020 $74,511 $57,771 $100,893 $56,970 $49,315 $40,202 $6,974 $13,836

4.1% 2.1% 2.3% 1.6% 2.5% 1.2% 0.9% 0.7% 0.1% 0.3%

Specialty-Item Distribution $210,128 $391,351 $190,003 $262,432 $307,037 $184,348 $339,997 $755,780 $850,810 $665,173

8.8% 15.2% 5.8% 7.3% 7.7% 4.0% 6.5% 12.5% 17.6% 13.6%

Public Entertainment $71,439 $71,389 $88,072 $92,120 $125,094 $118,622 $89,739 $84,276 $81,292 $110,669

3.0% 2.8% 2.7% 2.5% 3.1% 2.6% 1.7% 1.4% 1.7% 2.3%

Endorsements & Testimonials $384 $376 $781 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Coupons & Retail-Value-Added ** ** $874,127 $959,965 $1,183,798 $1,882,905 $2,175,373 $2,559,387 $1,248,896 $1,348,378 

26.7% 26.5% 29.6% 40.4% 41.6% 42.4% 25.8% 27.5%

Other*** $252,570 $299,355 $78,366 $89,290 $62,917 $68,758 $41,608 $63,680 $47,672 $33,680

10.0% 11.6% 2.4% 2.5% 1.6% 1.5% 0.8% 1.2% 1.0% 0.7%

Total $2,382,357 $2,580,504 $3,274,853 $3,616,993 $3,992,008 $4,650,114 $5,231,917 $6,035,437 $4,833,532 $4,895,223

Sports & Sporting Events**** $84,000 $97,900 $108.700 $102,000 $81,900 $78,000 $76,000 $83,000

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent.

** Prior to 1988, the Commission did not specifically collect information on Coupons & Retail-Value-Added.

*** Expenditures for audio-visual are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

**** These Sports & Sporting Event Expenditures are rounded to the nearest million dollars, except for those for 1989, 1990, and 1992, which are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand dollars.
TABLE 2C

DOMESTIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES 

FOR YEARS 1996–2001 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)* 

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Newspapers $14,067 $16,980 $29,444 $50,952 $51,652 $31,676

0.3% 0.3% 0.4% 0.6% 0.5% 0.3%

Magazines $243,046 $236,950 $281,296 $377,364 $294,916 $172,853

4.8% 4.2% 4.2% 4.6% 3.1% 1.5%

Outdoor $292,261 $295,334 $294,721 $53,787 $9,262 $8,241

5.7% 5.2% 4.4% 0.7% 0.1% 0.1%

Transit $28,865 $26,407 $40,158 $5,573 $4 $0

0.6% 0.5% 0.6% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0%

Point-of-Sale $252,619 $305,360 $290,739 $329,429 $347,038 $284,319

4.9% 5.4% 4.3% 4.0% 3.6% 2.5%

Direct Mail $38,703 $37,310 $57,772 $94,610 $92,902 $133,947

0.8% 0.7% 0.9% 1.2% 1.0% 1.2%

Promotional Allowances $2,150,838 $2,438,468 $2,878,919 $3,542,950 $3,913,997 $4,452,709

42.1% 43.1% 42.8% 43.0% 40.8% 39.7%

Sampling Distribution $15,945 $22,065 $14,436 $33,711 $22,330 $17,175

0.3% 0.4% 0.2% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2%

Specialty-Item Distribution $544,345 $512,602 $355,835 $335,680 $327,826 $333,394

10.7% 9.6% 5.3% 4.1% 3.4% 3.0%

Public Entertainment $171,177 $195,203 $248,536 $267,379 $309,610 $312,366

3.4% 3.4% 3.7% 3.3% 3.2% 2.8%

Endorsements & Testimonials $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Coupons

$1,308,708**

25.6%

$552,550 $624,199 $531,004 $705,299 $602,110

9.8% 9.3% 6.5% 7.4% 5.4%

Retail-Value-Added $970,363 $1,555,391 $2,559,883 $3,453,446 $4,761,792

17.1% 23.1% 31.1% 36.0% 42.5%

Internet $432 $215 $125 $651 $949 $841

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Other*** $46,696 $50,207 $61,584 $54,658 $63,395 $104,797

0.9% 1.0% 0.9% 0.7% 0.7% 0.9%

Total $5,107,700 $5,660,014 $6,733,157 $8,237,631 $9,592,627 $11,216,220

Sports & Sporting Events**** $85,000 $121,400 $125,600 $113,600 $127,900 $110,600

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent.

** Prior to 1997, Coupons and Retail-Value-Added were reported as a single category.

*** Expenditures for audio-visual are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

**** These Sports & Sporting Event Expenditures are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand dollars, except for those for 1996, which are rounded 

to the nearest million dollars.
TABLE 2D

DOMESTIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR YEARS 2002–2005 

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

2002 2003 2004 2005

Newspapers $25,538 $8,251 $4,913 $1,589

0.2% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0%

Magazines $106,853 $156,394 $95,700 $44,777

0.9% 1.0% 0.7% 0.3%

Outdoor $24,192 $32,599 $17,135 $9,821

0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.0%

Transit $0 $0 $0 $0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Point-of-Sale $260,902 $165,573 $163,621 $182,192

2.1% 1.1% 1.2% 1.4%

Direct Mail $111,319 $92,978 $93,836 $51,844

0.9% 0.6% 0.7% 0.0%

Price Discounts $7,873,835 $10,808,239 $10,932,198 $9,776,069

63.2% 71.4% 77.3% 74.6%

Promotional Allowances – Retailers $1,333,097 $1,229,327 $542,212 $435,830

10.7% 8.1% 3.8% 3.3%

Promotional Allowances – Wholesalers $446,327 $683,067 $387,757 $410,364

3.6% 4.5% 2.7% 3.1%

Promotional Allowances – Other $2,767 $2,786 $1,323 $1,493

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Sampling Distribution $28,777 $17,853 $11,649 $17,211

0.2% 0.1% 0.0% 0.1%

Specialty-Item Distribution – Non-Branded $174,201 $254,956 $216,577 $225,279

1.4% 1.7% 1.5% 1.7%

Public Entertainment – Adult-Only $219,016 $150,889 $140,137 $214,075

1.8% 1.0% 1.0% 1.6%

Public Entertainment – General-Audience $34,089 $32,849 $115 $152

0.3% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0%

Sponsorships $54,247 $31,371 $28,231 $30,575

0.4% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%

Endorsements & Testimonials $0 $0 $0 $0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Coupons $522,246 $650,653 $751,762 $870,137

4.2% 4.3% 5.3% 6.6%

Retail-Value-Added – Bonus Cigarettes $1,060,304 $677,308 $636,221 $725,009

8.5% 4.5% 4.5% 5.5%

Retail-Value-Added – Non-Cigarette Bonus $24,727 $20,535 $14,342 $7,526

0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.0%

Company Website $940 $2,851 $1,401 $2,675

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Internet – Other $0 $0 $0 $0

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Telephone $679 $760 $346 $59

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Other** $162,302 $126,758 $110,381 $104,280

1.3% 0.8% 0.8% 0.8%

Total $12,466,358 $15,145,998 $14,149,857 $13,110,955

Sports & Sporting Events*** $109,700 $62,800 $28,200 $30,600

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent.

** Expenditures for audio-visual are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

*** These Sports & Sporting Event Expenditures are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand dollars.
TABLE 2E 

CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR 2006–2010 

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Newspapers N/A

**

N/A

**

$169

0.0%

N/A

**

N/A

**

Magazines $50,293

0.0%

$47,203

0.4%

$25,478

0.3%

$36,680

0.4%

$46,463

0.6%

Outdoor $935

0.0%

$3,041

0.0%

$2,045

0.0%

$1,812

0.0%

$1,744

0.0%

Transit $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Point-of-Sale $242,625

1.9%

$200,785

1.8 %

$165,870

1.7%

$112,125

1.3%

$108,369

1.3%

Direct Mail $102,353

0.8%

$81,929

0.8%

$89,920

0.9%

$68,891

0.8%

$56,482

0.7%

Price Discounts $9,205,107

73.7%

$7,699,362

70.9%

$7,171,092

72.1%

$6,672,428

78.2%

$6,492,381

80.6%

Promotional Allowances –

Retailers

$434,239

3.5%

$454,898

4.2%

$481,955

4.8%

$429,981

5.0%

$376,805

4.7%

Promotional Allowances –

Wholesalers

$471,204

3.8%

$479,032

4.4%

$448,461

4.5%

$449,006

5.3%

$410,370

5.1%

Promotional Allowances – 

Other

N/A

**

N/A

**

$1,245

0.0%

$965

0.0%

$210

0.0%

Sampling Distribution $29,431

0.2%

$48,719

0.4%

$54,261

0.5%

$23,784

0.3%

$22,166

0.3%

Specialty-Item Distribution –

Non-Branded

$163,761

1.3%

$160,047

1.5%

$93,798

0.9%

$74,956

0.9%

$65,574

0.8%

Public Entertainment –

Adult-Only

$168,098

1.3%

$160,104

1.5%

$154,749

1.5%

$134,328

1.6%

$138,889

1.7%

Public Entertainment –

General-Audience

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Sponsorships N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

$0

0.0%

Endorsements & Testimonials $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Coupons $625,777

5.0%

$366,779

3.4%

$359,793

3.6%

$371,028

4.3%

$235,802

2.9%

Retail-Value-Added –

Bonus Cigarettes

$817,792

6.5%

$981,566

9.0%

$721,818

7.3%

$11,736

0.1%

N/A

**

Retail-Value-Added –

Non-Cigarette Bonus

$14,642

0.1%

$17,720

0.1%

$10,983

0.1%

N/A

**

$0

0.0%

Company Website $6,497

0.1%

$2,351

0.0%

$13,172

0.1%

$18,300

0.2%

$20,829

0.3%

Internet – Other $0

0.0%

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Telephone N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Audio-Visual $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Social Media $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Other** $156,938

1.3%

$161,231

1.5%

$148,260

1.5%

$126,354

1.5%

$76,705

1.0%

Total $12,489,692 $10,864,768 $9,943,068 $8,532,375 $8,052,790

Sports & Sporting Events*** N/A $33,200 $37,300 N/A $0

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent. 

** Expenditures denoted “N/A” are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

*** These Sports & Sporting Event Expenditures are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand dollars.
TABLE 2F 

CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR 2011–2015 

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Newspapers $549

0.0%

N/A

** 

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Magazines $23,254

0.3%

$27,943

0.3%

$50,610

0.6%

$49,976

0.6%

$22,463

0.3%

Outdoor $3,100

0.0%

$2,211

0.0%

$2,268

0.0%

$2,216

0.0%

$2,020

0.0%

Transit $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Point-of-Sale $78,280

0.9%

$69,560

0.8%

$60,658

0.7%

$47,484

0.6%

$36,374

0.4%

Direct Mail $51,491

0.6%

$45,582

0.5%

$38,294

0.4%

$46,193

0.6%

$41,831

0.5%

Price Discounts – Retailers‡

$7,001,717

83.6%

$7,807,477

85.1%

$7,648,571

84.9% 

$5,565,093

68.9%

$5,448,562

65.6%

Price Discounts – Wholesalers‡ $1,201,986

14.9% 

$1,502,637

18.1% 

Promotional Allowances –

Retailers

$360,334

4.3%

$337,521

3.7%

$293,971

3.3%

$261,411

3.2%

$217,159

2.6%

Promotional Allowances –

Wholesalers

$401,006

4.8%

$391,146

4.3%

$400,004

4.4%

$365,836

4.5%

$356,730

4.3%

Promotional Allowances – 

Other

$204

0.0%

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Sampling Distribution N/A

**

N/A

** 

N/A

**

N/A

**

N/A

**

Specialty-Item Distribution –

Non-Branded

$44,394

0.5%

$46,912

0.5% 

$57,061

0.6% 

$58,248

0.7% 

$79,359

1.0% 

Public Entertainment –

Adult-Only

$133,134

1.6%

$118,995

1.3%

$105,072

1.2%

$104,898

1.3%

$72,422

0.9%

Public Entertainment –

General-Audience

$0

0.0%

N/A

** 

N/A

**

N/A

**

$0

0.0%

Sponsorships $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Endorsements & Testimonials $0

0.0%

$0

0.0% 

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Coupons $171,222

2.0%

$239,618

2.6%

$257,507

2.9%

$262,753

3.3%

$345,626

4.2%

Retail-Value-Added –

Bonus Cigarettes

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Retail-Value-Added –

Non-Cigarette Bonus

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Company Website $21,898

0.3%

$21,403

0.2%

$15,402

0.2%

$16,632

0.2%

$31,253

0.4%

Internet – Other N/A

**

$1,309

0.0%

$5,441

0.1%

$5,410

0.1%

N/A

**

Telephone N/A

**

N/A

** 

N/A

**

$65

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Audio-Visual $0

0.0%

N/A

** 

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Social Media $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Other** $82,678

1.0%

$66,734

0.7%

$69,371

0.8%

$83,773

1.0%

$147,132

1.8%

Total $8,373,260 $9,176,411 $9,004,229 $8,071,975 $8,303,569

Sports & Sporting Events $0 $0 $0 $0 $574

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent. 

** Expenditures denoted “N/A” are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

‡ Prior to 2014, price discounts were not broken down by whether they were paid to retailers or wholesalers.
TABLE 2G

CIGARETTE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR 2016–2017

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)*

2016 2017

Newspapers N/A

**

N/A

**

Magazines $19,948

0.2%

$14,944

0.2%

Outdoor $1,662

0.0%

$1,780

0.0%

Point-of-Sale $51,941

0.6%

$48,482

0.6%

Direct Mail $39,979

0.5%†

$34,599

0.4%

Price Discounts – Retailers $5,806,108

66.7%

$6,188,802

71.7%

Price Discounts – Wholesalers $1,440,776

16.5%

$1,194,915

13.8 %

Promotional Allowances –

Retailers

$228,828

2.6%

$186,855

2.2%

Promotional Allowances –

Wholesalers

$395,929

4.5%

$376,125

4.4%

Promotional Allowances – 

Other

N/A

** 

N/A

** 

Sampling Distribution $53

0.0%

N/A

**

Specialty-Item Distribution –

Non-Branded

$96,044

1.1%

$79,512

0.9%

Consumer Engagement - Retail $38,219

0.4%

$35,987

0.4%

Consumer Engagement –

Adult-Only

$66,116

0.8%

$47,290

0.5%

Public Entertainment –

Adult-Only

N/A

**

$0

0.0%

Public Entertainment –

General-Audience

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Sponsorships $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Endorsements & Testimonials $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Coupons $379,631

4.4%

$301,914

3.5%

Retail-Value-Added –

Bonus Cigarettes

$0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Retail-Value-Added –

Non-Cigarette Bonus

$633

0.0%

N/A

**

Company Website $27,701

0.3%

$25,084

0.3%

Internet – Other N/A

**

N/A

**

Telephone N/A

**

N/A

**

Audio-Visual $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Social Media $0

0.0%

$0

0.0%

Other** $112,666

1.3%

$100,546

1.2%

Total $8,706,234 $8,636,833

Sports & Sporting Events $498 $0

* Because of rounding, sums of percentages may not equal 100 percent. 

** Expenditures denoted “N/A” are included in the “Other” category to avoid potential disclosure of individual company data.

† This figure has been corrected.
TABLE 3

DOMESTIC CIGARETTE ADVERTISING EXPENDITURES

BY MEDIA FOR YEARS 1963–1974*

(MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)

YEAR TV RADIO NEWSPAPER MAGAZINES DIRECT BILLBOARD/

POSTER/

OUTDOOR/

TRANSIT

OTHER TOTAL

1963 151.7 31.6 45.6 13.2 7.4 249.5

1964 170.2 25.5 45.2 14.6 5.8 261.3

1965 175.6 24.8 41.9 14.7 6.0 263.0

1966 198.0 31.3 43.4 17.9 6.9 297.5

1967 226.9 17.5 41.2 20.3 6.0 311.9 

1968 217.2 21.3 44.6 21.6 6.0 310.7

1969 221.3 13.6 48.7 13.4 8.9 305.9

1970 205.0 12.4 14.7 49.5 16.9 11.7 4.5 314.7

1971 2.2 0 59.3 98.3 27.0 60.6 4.2 251.6

1972 0 0 63.1 96.1 22.9 67.5 8.0 257.6

1973 0 0 65.3 92.4 15.2 63.2 11.4 247.5

1974 0 0 80.5 114.6 31.1 71.4 9.2 306.8

*

 For 1963 through 1974, the reporting companies did not report promotional activities that they did not consider to be advertising. The data 

reported in Tables 2 through 2G were not collected in their present form until 1975. Thus, Table 3, which reports cigarette advertising 

expenditures from 1963 through 1974, has been retained in this report for comparative purposes.
TABLE 4A 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF CIGARETTES BY TAR YIELD

(1967–1990) 

Year

Market share of cigarettes having tar yields of:

15 mg. or less 12 mg. or less 9 mg. or less 6 mg. or less 3 mg. or less 

1967 2.0% 

1968 2.5% 

1969 3.0% 

1970 3.6% 

1971 3.8% 

1972 6.6% 

1973 8.9% 

1974 8.9% 

1975 13.5% 

1976 15.9% 

1977 22.7% 

1978 27.5% 

1979 40.9% 

1980 44.8% 34.4% 16.8% 7.3% 3.3% 

1981 56.0% 40.1% 24.6% 9.6% 3.7% 

1982 52.2% 43.8% 27.8% 8.9% 2.9% 

1983 53.1% 44.9% 27.9% 9.4% 3.1% 

1984 51.0% 43.4% 26.3% 9.4% 2.9% 

1985 51.9% 43.1% 25.3% 8.4% 2.3% 

1986 52.6% 44.5% 22.3% 9.9% 2.6% 

1987 55.4% 47.8% 20.2% 10.0% 2.5% 

1988 54.2% 48.7% 20.1% 10.7% 3.1% 

1989 55.1% 48.4% 21.5% 11.4% 2.4% 

1990 60.6% 51.5% 25.5% 12.2% 2.8% 
TABLE 4B 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF CIGARETTES BY TAR YIELD

(1991-2016) 

Year

Market share of cigarettes having tar yields of:

15 mg. or less 12 mg. or less 9 mg. or less 6 mg. or less 3 mg. or less 

1991 60.5% 52.6% 22.0% 12.7% 2.6%

1992 68.7% 52.9% 24.9% 12.7% 2.5%

1993 66.5% 53.3% 23.4% 12.6% 1.9%

1994 71.2% 53.7% 23.1% 12.3% 2.1%

1995 72.7% 53.6% 27.1% 12.2% 2.2%

1996 67.4% 55.5% 22.3% 11.9% 1.9%

1997 70.2% 55.6% 21.9% 11.5% 1.7%

1998 81.9% 56.8% 22.9% 13.2% 1.6%

1999 86.6% 57.4% 25.3% 13.6% 1.6%

2000 87.1% 50.4% 23.7% 13.6% 1.3%

2001 85.2% 58.1% 22.6% 13.2% 1.0%

2002 84.9% 58.2% 22.5% 12.9% 0.9%

2003 84.9% 59.5% 22.5% 12.6% 0.8%

2004 84.8% 57.7% 19.2% 11.5% 0.8%

2005 83.5% 58.4% 18.7% 11.5% 0.6%

2006 84.4% 57.7% 19.5% 11.1% 0.5%

2007 82.7% 57.3% 19.6% 10.7% 0.4%

2008 84.3% 57.6% 18.0% 10.3% 0.3%

2009 74.7% 54.4% 15.5% 9.6% 0.3%

2010 86.3% 53.8% 12.9% 8.2% 0.2%

2011* 94.1% 53.3% 12.2% 7.9% 0.2%

2012* 88.6% 51.6% 15.5% 8.2% 0.2%

2013* 87.3% 51.7% 14.0% 7.4% 0.2%

2014* 83.3% 49.0% 16.7% 6.9% 0.2%

2015* 84.5% 52.4% 14.8% 7.2% 0.2%

2016* 87.9% 52.2% 16.7% 6.7% 0.2%

* Prior to 2011, the companies were required to submit tar-, nicotine-, and carbon monoxide-yield data for every cigarette variety they sold. From 

2011 through 2016, the companies were required to submit only data in their possession or control; the Commission has not required them to test 

their cigarettes. As a result, market share comparisons both within a given year and to previous years might no longer be accurate. 
TABLE 5A 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF FILTER AND NON-FILTER CIGARETTES

(1963–1986) 

YEAR NON-FILTER FILTER CHARCOAL NON-CHARCOAL

1963 42% 58% * * 

1964 39% 61% * * 

1965 36% 64% * * 

1966 32% 68% * * 

1967 28% 72% * * 

1968 26% 74% 6% 68%

1969 23% 77% 6% 71%

1970 20% 80% 6% 74%

1971 18% 82% 6% 76%

1972 16% 84% 6% 78% 

1973 15% 85% 5% 80% 

1974 14% 86% 5% 81%

1975 13% 87% 5% 82%

1976 12% 88% 4% 84%

1977 10% 90% 4% 86%

1978 10% 90% 3% 87%

1979 9% 91% 3% 88%

1980 8% 92% 3% 89%

1981 8% 92% 2% 90%

1982 7% 93% 2% 91%

1983 7% 93% 2% 91%

1984 7% 93% 2% 91%

1985 6% 94% 1% 93%

1986 6% 94% 1% 93%

* Figures for charcoal filter cigarettes for the years 1963 through 1967 were not obtained. 
TABLE 5B 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF FILTER AND NON-FILTER CIGARETTES

(1987–2017) 

YEAR NON-FILTER FILTER

 1987 4% 96% 

 1988 5% 95% 

 1989 5% 95% 

 1990 5% 95% 

1991 4% 96% 

1992 3% 97% 

1993 3% 97% 

1994 3% 97% 

1995 3% 97% 

1996 3% 97% 

1997 2% 98% 

1998 2% 98% 

1999 2% 98% 

2000 2% 98% 

2001 2% 98% 

2002 2% 98% 

2003 1% 99% 

2004 1% 99% 

2005 1% 99% 

2006 1% 99% 

2007 1% 99% 

2008 1% 99% 

2009 0.5% 99.5% 

2010 0.6% 99.4% 

 2011 0.5% 99.5% 

 2012 0.4% 99.6%

 2013 0.4% 99.6%

 2014 0.4% 99.6% 

 2015 0.2% 99.8% 

 2016 0.3% 99.7% 

 2017 0.3% 99.7% 
TABLE 6A 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF CIGARETTES BY LENGTH IN MILLIMETERS

(1967–2010)

YEAR 68–72 mm 79–88 mm 94–101 mm 110–121 mm

 (King) (Long)

1967 14% 77% 9% ---

1968 12% 74% 13% --- 

1969 11% 74% 16% --- 

1970 9% 73% 18% ---

1971 8% 72% 20% ---

1972 8% 71% 21% ---

1973 7% 71% 22% ---

1974 6% 71% 23% --- * 

1975 6% 69% 24% 1%

1976 5% 69% 24% 2%

1977 5% 67% 26% 2%

1978 5% 65% 27% 2%

1979 4% 65% 30% 2% 

1980 3% 63% 32% 2%

1981 3% 62% 33% 2%

1982 3% 61% 34% 2%

1983 3% 60% 34% 2%

1984 3% 59% 36% 2%

1985 3% 58% 37% 2%

1986 2% 58% 37% 3%

1987 2% 57% 38% 3% 

1988 2% 57% 38% 2%

1989 2% 57% 39% 2%

1990 2% 57% 39% 2%

1991 2% 56% 40% 2%

1992 2% 56% 41% 2% 

1993 1% 55% 42% 2%

1994 1% 56% 41% 2%

1995 1% 57% 40% 2%

1996 1% 57% 40% 2%

1997 1% 58% 39% 2%

1998 1% 59% 38% 2%

1999 1% 59% 38% 2%

2000 1% 60% 37% 2%

2001 1% 60% 38% 1%

2002 1% 61% 37% 2%

2003 1% 61% 36% 2%

2004 1% 62% 35% 2%

2005 1% 62% 35% 2%

2006 1% 62% 35% 2%

2007 1% 65% 32% 2%

2008 2% 61% 34% 2%

2009 2% 61% 35% 2%

2010 3% 59% 36% 2%

* The 110–121 mm length was combined with 94–101 mm length.
TABLE 6B

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF CIGARETTES BY LENGTH IN MILLIMETERS

(2011–2017) 

YEAR 68–72 mm 79–88 mm 94–101 mm 110–121 mm

 (King) (Long)

2011 3% 57% 38% 2%

2012 3% 57% 39% 1%

2013* 3% 57% 39% 1%

2014 3% 58% 38% 1%

2015 3% 53% 43% 1% 

2016 3% 56% 40% 1%

2017 3% 56% 41% 1%

* The table does not report the less than 0.1% share of cigarettes with a 93 mm length.
TABLE 7A 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF MENTHOL AND NON-MENTHOL CIGARETTES

(1963–2000) 

YEAR MENTHOL NON-MENTHOL

1963 16% 84% 

1964 16% 84% 

1965 18% 82% 

1966 19% 81% 

1967 20% 80% 

1968 21% 79% 

1969 22% 78% 

1970 23% 77% 

1971 24% 76% 

1972 24% 76% 

1973 25% 75% 

1974 27% 73% 

1975 27% 73% 

1976 28% 72% 

1977 28% 72% 

1978 28% 72% 

1979 29% 71% 

1980 28% 72% 

1981 28% 72% 

1982 29% 71% 

1983 28% 72% 

1984 28% 72% 

1985 28% 72% 

1986 28% 72% 

1987 28% 72% 

1988 28% 72% 

1989 27% 73% 

1990 26% 74% 

1991 27% 73% 

1992 26% 74% 

1993 26% 74% 

1994 25% 75% 

1995 25% 75% 

1996 25% 75% 

1997 25% 75% 

1998 26% 74% 

1999 26% 74% 

2000 26% 74% 
TABLE 7B 

DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE OF MENTHOL AND NON-MENTHOL CIGARETTES

(2001–2017) 

YEAR MENTHOL NON-MENTHOL

2001 26% 74%

2002 27% 73%

2003 27% 73%

2004 27% 73%

2005 27% 73%

2006 28% 72% 

2007 29% 71%

2008 27% 73%

2009 29% 71%

2010 31% 69%

2011 32% 68%

2012 33% 67% 

2013 34% 66% 

2014 33% 67% 

2015 26% 74%

2016 35% 65%

2017 36% 64% 
TABLE 8A 

DISCLOSURE OF TAR AND NICOTINE RATINGS ON CIGARETTE PACKS (1994–2001)

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

% of cigarettes sold that disclose

ratings on the pack

6.3% 6.3% 6.1% 5.8% 5.3% 4.1% 3.6% 1.8%

more than 15 mg. 

tar

share of 

varieties in tar 

group

28.8% 27.3% 32.7% 29.8% 18.0% 13.4% 12.9% 14.8%

% that 

discloses 

ratings on pack

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

12–15 mg. tar share of 

varieties in tar 

group

19.3% 21.0% 15.3% 16.7% 29.1% 32.5% 39.0% 29.7%

% that 

discloses 

ratings on pack

0.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 0.0%

8–11 mg. tar share of 

varieties in tar 

group

38.6% 38.7% 39.2% 41.0% 39.4% 40.3% 33.9% 42.1%

% that 

discloses 

ratings on pack

2.4% 2.8% 2.6% 2.3% 3.2% 1.6% 0.7% 1.0%

4–7 mg. tar share of 

varieties in tar 

group

11.2% 10.8% 10.9% 10.8% 11.9% 12.2% 12.9% 12.5%

% that 

discloses 

ratings on pack

30.7% 30.1% 29.3% 28.6% 20.7% 16.2% 16.5% 3.7%

3 mg. tar or less share of 

varieties in tar 

group

2.1% 2.2% 1.9% 1.7% 1.6% 1.6% 1.3% 1.0%

% that 

discloses 

ratings on pack

91.8% 89.1% 97.2% 97.3% 97.4% 92.3% 92.0% 87.9%
TABLE 8B 

DISCLOSURE OF TAR RATINGS ON CIGARETTE PACKS (2002–2011)* 

 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

% that discloses

ratings on the pack

1.4% 1.2% 1.2% 0.9% 0.8% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

more than 15 mg. 

tar

share of varieties 

in group

15.1% 15.1% 15.2% 16.5% 15.5% 17.3% 15.7% 25.2% 13.7% 5.9% 

% that discloses 

ratings on pack

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

12–15 mg. tar share of varieties 

in group

28.8% 28.9% 30.3% 28.3% 28.4% 27.4% 29.9% 23.1% 33.5% 46.5% 

% that discloses 

ratings on pack

0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

8–11 mg. tar share of varieties 

in group

43.0% 43.2% 42.5% 43.3% 44.5% 44.3% 43.7% 41.8% 43.8% 38.8% 

% that discloses 

ratings on pack

0.9% 0.8% 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 0.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

4–7 mg. tar share of varieties 

in group

12.2% 12.0% 11.2% 11.3% 10.9% 10.5% 10.3% 9.7% 8.6% 8.6% 

% that discloses 

ratings on pack

1.8% 1.5% 1.5% 1.2% 1.0% 0.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

3 mg. tar or less share of varieties 

in group

0.9% 0.8% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% 

% that discloses 

ratings on pack

88.7% 89.9% 91.6% 90.7% 94.9% 100.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

* Prior to 2011, the companies were required to submit tar-yield data for every cigarette variety they sold. Since 2011, the companies have only been required to submit data in their possession or 

control; the Commission has not required them to test their cigarettes. As a result, market share comparisons both within a given year and with previous years might no longer be accurate. Given that 

and the fact that since 2008 the companies have reported that they have not disclosed tar ratings on any of their packs, the Commission will no longer be updating this table.
APPENDIX

2017 Advertising and Promotional Expenditure Categories

Newspapers: Newspaper advertising; but excluding expenditures in connection with sampling, 

consumer engagement, specialty-item distribution, public entertainment, endorsements, 

sponsorships, coupons, and retail-value-added.

Magazines: Magazine advertising; but excluding expenditures in connection with sampling, 

consumer engagement, specialty-item distribution, public entertainment, endorsements, 

sponsorships, coupons, and retail-value-added.

Outdoor: Billboards; signs and placards in arenas, stadiums, and shopping malls, whether they are 

open air or enclosed; and any other advertisements placed outdoors, regardless of their size, 

including those on cigarette retailer property; but excluding expenditures in connection with 

sampling, consumer engagement, specialty-item distribution, public entertainment, endorsements, 

sponsorships, coupons, and retail-value-added.

Point-of-Sale: Point-of-sale advertisements, that is, materials displayed or distributed at a retail 

location; but excluding expenditures in connection with outdoor advertising, sampling, consumer 

engagement, specialty-item distribution, public entertainment, endorsements, sponsorships, 

coupons, and retail-value-added.

Direct Mail: Direct-mail advertising; but excluding expenditures in connection with sampling, 

consumer engagement, specialty-item distribution, public entertainment, endorsements, 

sponsorships, coupons, retail-value-added, and Internet advertising not on the company website.

Price Discounts – Retailers: Price discounts paid to cigarette retailers in order to reduce the price 

of cigarettes to consumers, including off-invoice discounts, buy-downs, voluntary price reductions, 

and trade programs; but excluding retail-value-added expenditures for promotions involving free 

cigarettes and expenditures involving coupons.

Price Discounts – Wholesalers: Price discounts paid to cigarette wholesalers in order to reduce 

the price of cigarettes to consumers, including off-invoice discounts, buy-downs, voluntary price 

reductions, and trade programs; but excluding retail-value-added expenditures for promotions 

involving free cigarettes and expenditures involving coupons.

Promotional Allowances – Retailers: Promotional allowances paid to cigarette retailers in order 

to facilitate the sale or placement of any cigarette, including payments for stocking, shelving, 

displaying, and merchandising brands, volume rebates, incentive payments, and the cost of 

cigarettes given to retailers for free for subsequent sale to consumers; but excluding expenditures in 

connection with newspapers, magazines, outdoor, audio-visual, direct mail, point-of-sale, and price 

discounts.
Promotional Allowances – Wholesalers: Promotional allowances paid to cigarette wholesalers in 

order to facilitate the sale or placement of any cigarette, including payments for volume rebates, 

incentive payments, value-added services, promotional execution, and satisfaction of reporting 

requirements; but excluding expenditures in connection with newspapers, magazines, outdoor, 

audio-visual, direct mail, point-of-sale, price discounts, and retail promotional allowances.

Promotional Allowances – Other: Promotional allowances paid to any persons other than 

retailers, wholesalers, and full-time company employees who are involved in the cigarette 

distribution and sales process in order to facilitate the sale or placement of any cigarette; but 

excluding expenditures in connection with newspapers, magazines, outdoor, audio-visual, direct 

mail, point-of-sale, price discounts, and retail and wholesale promotional allowances.

Sampling Distribution: Sampling of cigarettes, including the cost of the cigarettes, all associated 

excise taxes and increased costs under the Master Settlement Agreement, and the cost of 

organizing, promoting, and conducting sampling. Sampling includes the distribution of cigarettes 

for consumer testing or evaluation when consumers are able to smoke the cigarettes outside of a 

facility operated by the company, but not the cost of actual clinical testing or market research 

associated with such cigarette distributions. Sampling also includes the distribution of coupons for 

free cigarettes, when no purchase or payment is required to obtain the coupons or cigarettes.

Specialty-Item Distribution – Non-Branded: All costs of distributing any items (other than 

cigarettes, items the sole function of which is to advertise or promote cigarettes, or written or 

electronic publications), whether distributed by sale, redemption of coupons, or otherwise, that do

not bear the name, logo, or an image of any portion of the package of any brand or variety of 

cigarette, including the cost of the items distributed but subtracting any payments received for the 

item. The costs associated with distributing non-cigarette items in connection with sampling or 

retail-value-added programs are reported in those categories, not as specialty-item distribution.

Consumer Engagement – Retail: All costs of consumer engagement at cigarette retail locations 

open to underage individuals, including any third-party agency fees, but excluding the cost of 

coupons distributed in the course of consumer-engagement activities.

Consumer Engagement – Adult-Only: All costs of consumer engagement of smokers in adultonly facilities, including any third-party agency fees, but excluding the cost of coupons distributed 

in the course of consumer-engagement activities.

Public Entertainment – Adult-Only: Public entertainment events bearing or otherwise 

displaying the name or logo or an image of any portion of the package of any of a company’s 

cigarettes or otherwise referring or relating to cigarettes, which take place in an adult-only facility, 

including all expenditures made by the company in promoting or sponsoring such events; but 

excluding expenditures in connection with adult-only consumer engagement. Such events must 

include entertainment, as opposed to simply consumer engagement.

Public Entertainment – General-Audience: Public entertainment events bearing or otherwise 

displaying the name or logo or an image of any portion of the package of any of a company’s 

cigarettes or otherwise referring or relating to cigarettes, which do not take place in an adult-only 
facility, including all expenditures made by the company in promoting or sponsoring such events. 

Such events must include entertainment, as opposed to simply consumer engagement.

Sponsorships: Sponsorships of sports teams or individual athletes, but excluding endorsements.

Endorsements & Testimonials: Endorsements, testimonials, and product placement.

Coupons: All costs associated with coupons for the reduction of the retail cost of cigarettes, 

regardless of how they are distributed or redeemed, including all costs associated with advertising 

or promotion, design, printing, distribution, and redemption. However, when coupons are 

distributed for free cigarettes and no purchase or payment is required to obtain the coupons or the 

cigarettes, these activities are considered to be sampling and not couponing.

Retail-Value-Added – Bonus Cigarettes: Retail-value-added expenditures for promotions 

involving free cigarettes (e.g., buy two packs, get one free), whether or not the free cigarettes are 

physically bundled together with the purchased cigarettes, including all expenditures and costs 

associated with the value added to the purchase of cigarettes (e.g., excise taxes paid for the free 

cigarettes and increased costs under the Master Settlement Agreement).

Retail-Value-Added – Non-Cigarette Bonus: Retail-value-added expenditures for promotions 

involving free or discounted non-cigarette product (e.g., buy two, get a free lighter or buy two, save 

20 cents per gallon of gasoline), including all expenditures and costs associated with the value 

added to the purchase of cigarettes.

Company Website: All expenditures associated with advertising on any company Internet website 

that can be accessed by computers located in the United States.

Internet – Other: Internet advertising other than on the company’s own Internet website, 

including on the World Wide Web, on commercial on-line services, and through electronic mail 

messages; but excluding costs associated with social-media marketing.

Telephone: Telephone advertising, including costs associated with the placement of telemarketing 

calls or the operation of incoming telephone lines that allow consumers to participate in any 

promotion or hear pre-recorded product messages; but excluding costs associated with having 

customer-service representatives available for responding to consumer complaints or questions.

Social-Media Marketing: All expenditures for social-media marketing on websites or other 

online services or communities, including but not limited to social-networking sites, microblogging 

sites, content-sharing sites, and blogs.

Audio-visual: Audio-visual or video advertising on any medium of electronic communication not 

subject to the Federal Communications Commission’s jurisdiction, including screens at motion 

picture theaters, video cassettes or DVDs, and television screens or monitors in stores; but 

excluding expenditures in connection with Internet advertising.

Other: Advertising and promotional expenditures not covered by another category. To the extent 
that third-party agency fees relating to cigarette advertising, merchandising, or promotion cannot 

be divided based on the materials to which they relate, they should be reported in this category.

Sports and Sporting Events: All advertising and promotional expenditures connected with or 

related to sports or sporting events, including, but not limited to: (i) the sponsoring, advertising, or 

promotion of sports or sporting events, support of an individual, group, or sports team, and 

purchase of or support for sports equipment, uniforms, sports facilities or training facilities; (ii) all 

expenditures for advertising in the name of the company or any of its cigarette brands in a sports 

facility, on a scoreboard or in conjunction with the reporting of sports results; (iii) all expenditures 

connected with functional promotional items (e.g., hats or posters) provided at or in connection 

with a sporting event; and (iv) all expenditures associated with cigarette sampling or consumer 

engagement in connection with a sporting event, including sampling or consumer engagement in an 

adult-only facility in the grounds or parking lot of a sports facility. “Sports and sporting events” 

includes, but is not limited to, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, wrestling, karate, judo, 

weight lifting, volleyball, skiing, skating, sailing, boating, equestrian, rodeo, automobile, race car, 

funny car, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, monster truck, tractor-pull, fishing, and hunting events, 

competitions, tournaments, and races. This category is duplicative of expenditures for other 

categories.