Cigarette Tax News July 8 2010, worldwide trend in raising cig prices

South Carolina, once the lowest taxed state for cigarettes in America is now raising their taxes

New York smokers getting around taxes by driving out of state

Cigarette taxes raised even in Palestine

Seneca Indians have another 2 weeks before ban on mailing cigarettes goes into effect

Cigarette black market in Canada grows from high taxes

------

There is clearly a world-wide trend in taxing cigarettes to provide funding to governments for their projects, and it doesn't seem like an end is in sight! Keep checking for more news!

Cigarette taxes rising all over, New York City, Egypt, Utah

Smokers in some parts of New York City are now paying as much as $15 a pack as of early July 2010

More on recent New York City cigarette tax increases

A total of nearly $7 in cigarette taxes in NYC

Egypt raising cigarette prices by 100%

$1 rise in Utah's cigarette taxes

Cigarette price increases, April 2010

A lot of increases in cigarette taxes in Early-Mid 2010:

Big cigarette price increase in Bulgaria


Cigarette taxes rising, complaints falling


50 cent cigarette price increase in South Carolina as of April 1, 2010


Utah - pretty big increases on tobacco prices effective July 1, passed April 1

Doesn't seem like using tobacco as a tax scapegoat to give the government more money is going to give up any time soon.

Cigarette price news, March 2010

Utah - Cig taxes going up $1

USA - The state of the tobacco industry in 2009

USA - Anti-smoking lobbies want to increase tobacco taxes more

UK - Anti-smoking charity wants 5% smoking tax increase, taxes are already heavy in the UK

------------

It's pretty unlikely that any taxes on tobacco products will go down anytime soon. Since along with other taxes last year, they also heavily taxed roll-your-own cigarettes, it's not the same alternative it used to be. You can still pretty much halve your smoking costs will roll your own, though.

You don't have to buy premade cigarettes

A much less expensive alternative to buying premade, or cigarettes from the store is buying tobacco, cigarette tubes and a machine to put them together. Although last year, a bill went through that heavily raised the tax on roll-your-own tobacco, it's still much cheaper to smoke that way. Some people have reservations about RYO tobacco, but having smoked it for the last few months, it's just good or better than the tobacco and chemicals in premades.

You don't have to smoke roll your own tobacco in unfiltered papers like many think, smoke shops and online retailers sell tubes than can be stuffed full of tobacco, just like regular cigarettes.

There's a number of great online sellers, my favorite being: Lil Brown's Smoke Shack, but there's many others out there with a search on "roll your own tobacco". Give it a try if cigarette prices are taking too much out of your wallet.



Info links:

Stuff your own
RYO revolution
RYO revolution forums

Possible new cigarette price increases, and the effects of cigarette taxes

Cigarette price news - January 2010

Australia - Government wants to increase cigarette prices to stop smoking


Michigan - New FSC(Fire Safe Cigarettes) are inferior to pre-FSC cigs, smokers claim


Kansas - State government wants to increase state cigarette tax


Hawaii - Cigarette price increases have lowered smoking rates in the state

----

In other news, I've recently started buying my own tobacco and tubes and "rolling" or making my own.

Resources on RYO(roll your own) cigarettes:
http://ryorevolution.com/
http://forum.ryorevolution.com/

Average price of premium brands of cigarettes, according to poll

On the right side of Cigarette Price Watch, there is a poll where you can vote for the cost of premium brands of cigarettes(Marlboro, Camel etc) in your area. This is a rough gauge of how much cigarettes cost in America right now.

30% - $5.50 - 6.50
24% - $4.50 - 5.50
13% - $7.50 - 8.50
11% - $6.50 - 7.50

A large majority of smokers in America are paying over $5.00 per pack of cigarettes as of early October, 2009.

Cigarette price news for late September 2009

Overall, the situation is holding steady. Recent increases in cigarette prices are beginning to have an effect. In most places, cigarette prices are slowly inching up. In the last year, they were increasing rapidly.

---

Illinois: Some unfazed by higher cigarette taxes, others try to quit

In response to cigarette prices going up, some are using different tobacco products or using new smoking methods.

---

New Jersey: Four men arrested, $280K seized in northern N.J. illegal cigarette sales probe

Buying them cheaper in other states, and selling them illegally in states with higher cigarette taxes.

---

Seattle: 7 charged in Seattle contraband cigarette case

Another similar case.

---

New York: 21 arrested in untaxed cigarette sting

Cigarette smugglers pulling in 800k a week.

---

One result of higher cigarette prices is the rise of smugglers, expect to see more of this in the future.

Cigarette Price News - Late August 2009

DIY cigarettes? Some smokers start growing tobacco

Wisconsin: State cigarette tax will jump 75 cents in 10 days

Mississippi: Cig taxes: Impact was as advertised

----

Alternatives to cigarettes: Electronic Cigarettes

----

As the first link shows, some people have decided to grow their own tobacco. From what I can gather it is legal to grow your own tobacco as long as you don't sell it and only grow it for your own use. It also seems like a lot of trouble to grow tobacco though, much more than growing other plants.

http://www.growtobacco.net/
http://www.howtogrowtobacco.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=grow+tobacco&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g10

----

Cigarettes costing over $6 for premium brands in most of Western Washington.

Going up steadily around the rest of the country.

Cigarette Price News for Early-Mid August 2009

News:

Increased crime due to high cigarette prices in Michigan

Native Americans in the northwest want to continue to be able to sell tax-free cigarettes

Cigarette Taxes are bad for everybody

Cigarettes cost over $6 in Florida now

Etc. 

The Obama administration is pushing health care reform. The big question is: what effect will that have on smokers? It all depends on what ends up happening. They will surely try to up the cigarette taxes to make smokers quit, as well as to increase their taxes considering the economy. 

People will continue looking for alternatives to high cigarette prices, like buying from Indian reservations or smuggling, as a few of those news articles noted. Cigarette prices in big cities like NYC, LA, and some parts of New Jersey are at or over $10.00. It's a situation that can't hold out for long. 

Cigarette Price News for June 7, 2009

Cigarette Price and Cigarette Tax News:

Pakistan: FBR to determine minimum price for tobacco tax

New Hampshire: Another cigarette tax hike will hurt small businesses, families

Taiwan: New cigarette prices leave consumers confused

New York: Cigarette Tax Increase Lowered NY Smoking Rates

Jakarta, Indonesia: Govt may raise cigarette excise by 10%

Australia: AMA backs cigarette tax hike

Cigarette Prices by Location:

Chicago - $9.25 for Camel Lights

Upstate South Carolina - $3.75 for Dorals

Tacoma, Washington - $5.60+ for Marlboro

Fresno, California - $5.00 - $6.15 for premium brands

Maine - $5.15 for Pall Mall and $5.45+ for other premium brands

Tampa, Florida - $5.45 for Newport

More Cigarette Price Notes

We're most likely going to see a Cigarette price increase in 2009, but it may come next year. Most forecasters see cigarette prices going up at some time in the future but the exact time is unknown. Cigarette prices in the USA are in a turbulent period due to the economy, while it's a bit more stabilized around the world.

Cigarette Price News for June 1st and a cigarette prices by state report

Montreal: Depanneur group wants cigarette prices lowered

A group representing owners of convenience stores says a new poll has found that higher taxes on cigarettes are playing a role in store closures.

The group says contraband cigarettes cost about $2, whereas legal cigarettes cost around $8 or $9....

----

Thailand: Poll: Cigarette Smokers too weak to quit

Most Thai smokers would like to quit smoking but they have not been very successful, according to a survey by the Suan Dusit Poll.

On the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, the survey was conducted between Thursday and Sunday, involving 1,092 respondents, both smokers, second-hand smokers and non-smokers, in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

On the respondents’ views on cigarette smokers, 41.06 per cent said smokers can smoke without causing troubles to others. 30.72 per cent were worried about the health of smokers. 28.22 per cent believed smokers had the right to smoke....

---------

Australia: Tobacco tax will widen wealth gap

A proposal to increase taxes on cigarettes would direct the money of some of the worst off in our society to some of the most affluent, writes Jennifer Doggett.....

-----


Some recent cigarette price reports

Cigarette Prices in:

Western New York: $4.75-$5.75

Kansas: $4.50-$5.50

Des Moines, Iowa: $5.15

Boise, Idaho: $5.25+

Baltimore, Maryland: $5.50-$6.00

These are prices for a pack of premium cigarettes like Camel, Marlboro, Newport, Doral etc.

Cigarette price news May 26

Vermont: State poised to raise cigarette tax

Sin tax amendment bill hits snag

Taking Control of Tobacco

Smoking today: Parliaments

Cigarette prices and a friend's friend

Cigarette Price News from May 24, 2009

Florida cigarette price news: The smoking gun: The facts behind the cigarette tax hike

Older story from March: Single Largest Cigarette Tax Hike Goes Into Effect Wednesday

From San Francisco: Newsom's Proposed Cigarette Tax a Pain in the Butt for Smokers

----

I got a call from a friend who had been visiting Arkansas and Georgia over the last week. He's visiting family there and is an avid smoker of Doral and Basic, prefers Menthols and 100s. Always looking out for prices, so he gave me the rundown of the price of cigarettes in that area, mostly in the rural parts of those states. Camel, Newports and Virginia Slims were selling for the most, for some reason.

Anyway, what's important is that he'd been out at a bar with his cousin and met a salesperson from Marlboro and discussed cigarettes and cigarette taxes with him. The guy said that they're not too sure where the price of cigarettes are going or how much a pack of cigarettes will cost next week or next year because of the current government and the recession. My friend didn't tell me much else, aside from thinking it was strange that the Marlboro guy didn't even smoke Marlboros and instead smoked Winston lights.

My friend got some Marlboro cigarette coupons from the guy though, which is pretty nice.

Prices of different cigarette brands

Most of the cigarette prices that we post on Cigarette Price Watch are for premium cigarette brands like Marlboro, Camel, Winston or Parliament. Most gas stations or supermarkets sell only premium brands. There are tons of other brands out there, some of them dirt cheap. 

Where I live, in the northwest we have Indian reservations that sell cigarettes of all sorts. Before some of the recent cigarette tax and price hikes, you could get some cheaper brands like Carnival and Smokin' Joes for $15 per carton. That's very cheap since Marlboros have always gone for at least $4.75 per pack up here. 

You need to remember that when browsing the cigarette price list, they're for premium cigarette brands. A lot of smokers don't know that there's all sorts of cheaper cigarette brands out there, but they're rarely sold at gas station or supermarkets. You can order those cheap cigarettes online from distributors, or at smoke shops, but they usually charge a lot more than they're worth.

The variety of cigarette brands differs around the United States. Most cigarettes are produced in southern states, primarily the south-east. South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, around there. In those states you can get more variety than somewhere like the northwest, where it's mostly premium cigarettes unless you go to a smoke shop or indian reservation. 

The prices of cigarettes are also much cheaper in that region. Not too long ago you could get premium brands for 15 bucks a carton in gas stations in South Carolina. People are always asking how much a pack of cigarette costs in different areas, but don't realize how much the price of cigarettes or the price of a carton of cigarettes differs around the nation. 

Cigarette Price News for May 22

Asia: More people want to quit smoking after increase of cigarette prices

Asia: Cigarette tax increase will decrease number of smokers

Right tax, wrong measure

Cigarette prices in western Washington seem to have gone up in recent days. One contact of ours reports paying $6.50 at a Fred Meyer in Seattle, along with another telling us of paying a little over $6.00 for a pack of cigarettes at a gas station. 

Cigarette Prices By State

Cigarette Prices By State

Note: These are the only states that we've got information for. These are rough estimates since it varies a bit within the state. 

California: $4.75-$9.00

Connecticut: $5.50- $6.50

Florida: $4.50-$5.75

Georgia: $4.25 - $5.50

Idaho: $5.00 - $5.75

Illinois: $4.25 - $6.75

Indiana - $4.25 - $5.50

Louisiana: $4.50 - $5.75

Michigan: $4.50 - $6.00

New Jersey: $5.00 - $7.50 in some places

New York: $4.75 - $10.00+

Nevada: $4.75 - $6.00

North Carolina: $4.00 - $5.00

Ohio: $4.50 - $6.50

Oklahoma: $4.50 - $5.50

Oregon: $4.75 - $6.25

Pennsylvania: $5.00 - $6.25

Tennessee: $5.00 - $5.75

Texas: $3.75 - $7.00

Virginia: $4.45 - $5.50

Washington: $4.75 - $6.00

Wyoming: $4.00 - $5.15

The prices of cigarettes have gradually gone up over the last few years and Cigarette Price Watch is here to watch and report on cigarette price rises. The new government is surely going to increase cigarette taxes and this is your first stop to find out what's going on.

The rise of cigarette prices in 2009 is something to keep your eye on, else you'll be caught with buying cigarettes at a vastly increased cost. Not only do we keep track of cigarette prices in the United States, but we are also beginning to keep track of cigarette prices in Europe and cigarette prices in the rest of the world. 

Cigarette Price News for May 18

Cigarette prices up, smokers shocked

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Many smokers might be thinking twice before they light up in Mississippi. Legislators approved a new cigarette tax increase that takes effect Friday and local tobacco stores are scrambling to get ready.

Geralyn Miller said, "I came in here with $100 to buy three cartons of cigarettes, and that's not washing anymore."

Smokers are getting sticker shock as they go to check out at local outlets like Smokey's Tobacco and Cigars. Employee Stephen Griffin said, "The cigarettes tax went up, an increase of 50 cents a pack. We're going to go up another $5 tomorrow. There won't be a single carton under $30."

Just last month, a federal tax was imposed on all tobacco products. Now that there's an increase in state tax on cigarettes, local stores are taking a bit hit.

Griffin said, "There's not as much money in it as it used to be. Any tax increase we have is going to affect that further."

Some folks aren't too happy about the price hike and feel legislators need to butt out of their habit. Griffin added, "Smokers have always been targeted, the problem is they never tax anyone else."

Unlike gas stations and convenience stores that sell goods to make money, stores like Smokey's rely solely on tobacco sales for revenue. Griffin said the tax, coupled with the slow economy, are bad for business.

He added, "This store always sold a lot of cartons up until now. Everyone's starting to switch to packs and cheaper packs."

Miller added, "I'm going to have to stop spending so much money on it and it's going to make tobacco companies lose money." While the tax increase may prove to be good for people's health, it's certainly not good for business.

John Furrow added, "I'm quitting, they're getting too high."

The store owner said wholesalers have to mark up all of the cigarettes in stock.

They have to pay the new state tax to the Tax Commission by June 15th.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_wala_OceanSprings_Cigarette_Prices_Up_Smokers_Shocked_20090514

Oof, looks like the price of cigarettes is going to go up even more.  Cigarette prices by state are also going to go up. 

World Health Organization(WHO) says increase world-wide cigarette taxes

Tax cigarettes at a higher rate, says WHO 
Web posted at: 5/14/2009 1:11:9
Source ::: The Peninsula/ By Huda NV

DOHA: Qatar and GCC countries can prevent millions of premature deaths if higher taxation and pricing is imposed on tobacco, according to the World Health Organisation. 

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has called for awareness on taxation and the myths and facts related to it. World wide, governments can collect revenues from taxes on a lethal product and diverting it for health promotion. Given the heavy burden of tobacco use, particularly in low-income countries where consumption is high, dedicating a portion of revenues from taxes for health promotion initiatives can be easily justified to reduce negative externalities. 

The GCC countries can generate higher excise revenues from tobacco products as the currently low excise tax levels and the fact that demand in the region is static to price. This health promotion strategy would entail allocating a portion of their tobacco tax revenues to fund national and other lower income countries’ health care systems. 

WHO brushes away the myth that countries with a higher cigarette tax suffer more from the illicit trade. Illicit trade is not a significant factor to justify restricting higher pricing policies. The illicit trade provisions within the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have heightened governmental awareness of such smuggling activities. 

Though increasing taxes on cigarettes is regarded as the main cause of smuggling and may increase the incentive for illicit trade of cigarettes, studies demonstrate that other factors may be playing more significant roles in the degree of smuggling activities than higher taxes alone. Higher smuggling activities in low-taxed Mediterranean countries provide a strong example of the comparable illicit trade burden on countries whose tax rates on cigarette products are relatively low. 

Any success in curbing the illicit trade rests largely on government’s strong commitments to combating these activities: The higher the commitment, the lower the smuggling, according to WHO. 

Cigarette smuggling does not directly apply to the GCC countries. However, WHO warns that these countries, including Qatar, may be at risk of organised long-distance international illicit trade. 

Qatar along with other GCC countries relies only on import duties for cigarettes. The GCC customs officials have requested additional time to increase import duties of importers’ prices during the last several years, according to WHO. A 200 percent import duty will increase the import cigarette prices of Qatar to $3.12 per pack, which will be still lower than that of many high income countries’ price levels. The total tax incidence in these countries in 2004-05 was 51percent of the retail price, which were lower than the average retail price and the total tax incidence of upper-middle-income countries. 

The export prices per pack of cigarettes to the region vary between $0.12/pack to $0.40/pack. In 2007, GCC countries received 1.9bn packs of cigarettes when the total population was 40m. Qatar alone received 50.7m packs or (55 packs/capita) in 2007. 

Of the 1.1bn people who smoke worldwide, 61.8m live in the Middle East region. In the region, tobacco is predicted to kill about 221,880 people in 2010 and increase to 540,281 people in 2030 (World Bank 1999) if the current smoking prevalence rates persist. In accordance with the WHO’s MPOWER policies, governments in Middle East can prevent millions of premature deaths and if they adopt measures to reduce the demand for tobacco, including introducing higher tax and pricing policies which are especially effective among children, adolescents, and the poor.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=May2009&file=Local_News200905141119.xml

-------------

Cigarette Prices may go up under Obama Administration 

It's possible that the Obama Administration may increase cigarette taxes as a way to pay for national healthcare. Reports have come in saying that the government may also tax alcohol as well as cigarettes. Bookmark Cigarette Price Watch for up to date information on cigarette prices and taxes!

Cigarette Prices and Cigarette Taxes May 9, 2009

May 9, 2009 - News

Serbia increases cigarette prices

BS from Florida about the "benefits" of increased taxes

E-Cigarettes spark debate

Local Price Updates

Cigarette Price Watch keeps track of the cigarette prices in the news as well as cigarette tax hikes. We also keep information on the cost of cigarettes in local areas. These come from people who e-mail us or contact us through other methods. Here are the local cigarette price updates for May 9:

These are for top of the line brands like Marlboro or Camel

Central Ohio: $5.25

Seattle $6.00

Salt Lake City: $5.20

Brooklyn: $8.35

Just outside of Atlanta: $6.10

Des Moines, Iowa: $4.75

Boise, ID: $5.50