Japan Tobacco domestic sales volume through seven months of the fiscal year fell 33 per cent, although a sharp increase in October indicates the shock effect has passed from last year’s record hike in the cigarette tax.

October sales volume at 9.5 billion sticks contrasts with 3.6 billion sticks in October, 2010, when a higher excise tax on cigarettes raised the price of a pack about 40 per cent. Last year, October sales volume fell 72 per cent. JT did not comment on the data it released today.
Volume from April through October was 60.4 billion sticks compared with 90.2 billion sticks. Market share in October was 58.2 per cent. (ci)