Fewer US adults are smoking and they are smoking less, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However the rate of decline is slowing.

Based on data from 2005 to 2010, the percentage of smokers aged 18 and over declined to 19.3 per cent last year, or 45.3 million people, from 20.9 per cent. The rate of decline is slower than in the previous five-year period, the CDC said.
In the five years to 2010, the percentage of smokers consuming nine or fewer cigarettes per day rose to 21.8 per cent from 16.4 per cent. Heavy smokers, defined as 30 or more cigarettes per day, fell to 8.3 per cent from 12.7 per cent. (ci)