The results are in, or coming in, and the sales figures from Big Tobacco show continuing declines of a historic nature in the number of cigarettes sold, at least in the west: Europe and North America.
Reynolds reported a decline of 5.5 percent in the second quarter in the U.S.; Lorillard had a 3.4 percent decline; British American Tobacco (BAT) reported an 8.7 percent decline in their European cigarette volume in the first and second quarters, along with a 1.5 percent decline in their (much smaller) American market; and Japan Tobacco experienced a decline of 5.8 percent. (It should be noted that, a: sales figures referring to dollar amounts are obviously not the same as volume/number of cigarettes sold, due to price increases; and b: figures for Asia are not declining and in fact may well be increasing).
The reasons why cigarette sales have been in significant decline in America and Europe over the past few years is not well known, although I suspect the cigarette makers are more knowledgeable about this than we in public health are. However, it must be said that this decline occurs in parallel with the skyrocketing sales and uptake of electronic cigarettes in those same regions. On a related note, I find it remarkable that the official public health gurus have not commented on this phenomenon, despite the fact that these figures have been staring them in the face for two years or more now. Is this miraculous trend unworthy of their attention because it conflicts with their monolithic, anti-harm-reduction, anti-e-cigarette agenda and the mythology and deception they adhere to to promote it? You decide.