CDC: E-cigarette sales in the US climb as prices fall

(HealthDay)—There was a large increase in sales of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and related products in the United States in recent years as their prices fell, according to a study published online Aug. 2 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

Teresa W. Wang, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues found that average monthly sales of such products rose 132 percent from 2012 to 2017.

During the same period, "average monthly prices significantly decreased in 39 states for rechargeables, in 31 states for disposables, in 20 states for pre-filled cartridges, and in eight states for e-liquids," the authors write. "Overall, U.S. e-cigarette unit sales generally increased as product prices decreased."

In related news, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials have said that the agency is preparing a new product standard for e-cigarettes. The FDA has a number of concerns about e-cigarettes, including harmful chemicals they might contain and the risk they could get young people addicted to nicotine.