US Pet Health Care - 2

From a comment made by CIP in the first post on this thread, one is led to search for the American Pet Products Association. One is led to this page, with the following information. Before presenting however, the point is that this is discretionary spending growing faster than inflation and faster than even human health care expenditures. (It is not clear to me whether an explosion in the number of pets or whether success in marketing is responsible.)

SPENDING

The following spending statistics are gathered by APPA from various market reseach sources and are not included in the organization's bi-annual National Pet Owners Survey.

Total U.S. Pet Industry Expenditures

Year Billion

2009 $45.4 Est.

2008 $43.2

2007 $41.2
2006 $38.5
2005 $36.3
2004 $34.4
2003 $32.4
2002 $29.5
2001 $28.5
1998 $23
1996 $21
1994 $17

Estimated 2009 Sales within the U.S. Market

For 2009, it estimated that $45.4 billion will be spent on our pets in the U.S.

Breakdown:
Food $17.4 billion
Supplies/OTC Medicine $10.2 billion
Vet Care $12.2 billion
Live animal purchases $2.2 billion
Pet Services: grooming & boarding $3.4 billion

Actual Sales within the U.S. Market in 2008

In 2008, $43.2 billion was spent on our pets in the U.S.

Breakdown:
Food $16.8 billion
Supplies/OTC Medicine $10.0 billion
Vet Care $11.1 billion
Live animal purchases $2.1 billion
Pet Services: grooming & boarding $3.2 billion

PS: Market research:

While the statistics are impressive, we believe the real story lies in the changing attitude of owners toward their pets, and the new demographic that has emerged. Pets in the U.S. are no longer considered property, but are thought of more like children. Owners are becoming guardians, not masters.