U.S. Cigarette Sales Increase For First Time In 20 Years

The number of cigarettes sold in the United States increased in 2020 for the first time in 20 years, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: This is the first increase in cigarette sales in 20 years.

According to a study by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), tobacco companies sold 203.7 billion cigarettes to wholesalers and retailers last year.

This corresponds to an increase of 0.4 percent compared to the previous year, the FTC said in Washington on Wednesday. The authority did not speculate as to a reason for the increase.

Marlboro manufacturer Altria had previously attributed the coronavirus pandemic to increased demand.

In addition, some smokers switched back to conventional products due to the stricter regulation of e-cigarettes. However, the FTC report also noted that the tobacco industry increased its spending on advertising and promotions in 2020 to $7.8 billion from $7.6 billion the previous year.

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