After Decades of Decline, Cigarettes Are Back, Baby (A Little, Anyway)

New figures show Oregon coffin-nail sales rose last year, halting a long-term downtrend.

By Nigel Jaquiss

Cigarette sales in Oregon have declined steadily since at least 1985, but state figures released last week show a big bounce for 2015: Smokers bought 357,000 more packs in 2015 than in 2014, a 2.7 percent increase.

That's still only about half the number they bought 30 years ago. State economists say the increase is part of a national trend, and may reflect greater disposable income and a rejection of e-cigarettes.

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Willamette Week

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Nigel Jaquiss

Nigel Jaquiss

Reporter Nigel Jaquiss joined the Oregon Journalism project in 2025 after 27 years at Willamette Week.

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