U.S. cigarette sales increased for the first time in 20 years during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, according to a report released by the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday.
Major manufacturers sold 203.7 billion cigarettes in 2020, up from 202.9 billion the previous year
Marlboro manufacturer Altria Group IncAltria Group reported that heavy consumer hoarding in the early stages of the outbreak, coupled with negative hype about e-cigarettes, prompted long-time smokers to switch from e-cigarette products to cigarettes, leading to a sharp rise in sales of traditional cigarettes. Recent research questions the idea that e-cigarettes are less harmful.
However, there are signs that this shift may not last. Us cigarette sales fell 9.4 per cent in the four weeks to October 9th from a year earlier, according to Nielsen.