[Cigarette consumer price and affordability in China: results from 2015 China adult survey].

Objective

To analyze the change of cigarette consumption price, and understand the cigarette affordability in China.

Methods

A total of 16 800 households were selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. Then IPAQ was used to randomly select one family member to conduct the survey. Questionnaire from Global Tobacco Surveillance System with added country-specific questions was used.

Results

Up to 50% of current smokers would buy 20 cigarettes with price of 9.9 yuan (RMB) or less, and 25% of current smokers would not buy 20 cigarettes with price exceed 5.5 yuan (RMB). Only 10% would buy 20 cigarettes with price over 19.9 yuan (RMB). The calculated median monthly expenditure for cigarettes was 181.4 yuan (RMB). From 2010 to 2015, the proportion of annual expenditure for cigarettes in disposable income per capita declined from 10.5% to 8.8% in urban area and from 21.1% to 17.3% in rural area.

Conclusion

During 2010-2015, the purchasing power of Chinese smokers increased in both urban area and rural area due to the decrease of cigarette consumption price.