Tobacco Smoking in the United States in Relation to Income

Excerpts from the report Preface: This report is a direct outgrowth of a survey made early in 1955 by the Bureau of the Census for the United States Public Health Service. The results of the survey were published in late 1956 in a monograph, Tobacco Smoking Patterns in the United States. The study reported here supplements the monograph by providing information on smoking characteristics in relation to income. In addition, other important aspects have been included. These are: (1) A discussion of different forms of smoking; (2) estimates of the smoking population; (3) more detailed information on rates of smoking; and (4) reconciliation of survey data with national aggregate consumption. Throughout our study, emphasis was placed on the effect of income on smoking characteristics. Whereas the Public Health Service monograph may be used to answer such a question as "How does age affect a person's smoking habits?," our report gives the answer to such a question as "How do age and income affect a person's smoking habits?" The monograph shows the effect of regional location, urban-rural residence, and occupation on smoking habits. But our study, as reported here, considers the effect of each in conjunction with income. We analyze the effect of these factors on smoking status (regular or occasional), the product smoked, and rates of smoking.