Researchers also found that prices increased by 6.8% ($6.76 to $7.22 per pack) between January 2020 and December 2021. “Both the FTC and retail sales data are likely associated, in part, with recent challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the global economy, consumer purchase patterns, and the supply chain,” the authors write. However, it is unclear if sales are lower because of higher prices, or if retailers increased prices to offset lower demand. “Nevertheless, continued surveillance of tobacco sales provides timely insights into emerging trends in consumer product preferences and can inform policy planning and practice,” the authors write.
Cigarette sales mirror declines in smoking rates overall in the past 20 years. These declines are thanks to public education campaigns like truth and other proven public health strategies to reduce smoking, including clean air policies, flavored tobacco sales restrictions, increased tobacco taxes, and Tobacco 21 policies raising the age to legally purchase tobacco, among others.