US cigarette consumption falls to lowest point since 1951

Sales of cigarettes in the United States are at their lowest point for more than half a century.

Sales have slumped by around 21% since 1998, including a 4.2% decline in the last 12 months for which data are available, says the tobacco committee of the National Association of Attorneys General (www.naag.org).

The 378 billion cigarettes sold in 2005 was the lowest number since 1951, although the population has doubled over the same time period, says the association, citing figures compiled by the Tobacco Tax Bureau.

The association …