Pets, a US$30 billion business and growing

Americans spent nearly US$30 billion on pet-related products and services in 2002, according to a new research study, Why People Buy Things For Their Pets, from Unity Marketing (www.unitymarketingonline.com). The report analyzes the purchase behavior of pet owners for "necessities," including food, leashes and collars, litter and curbing needs, cages, crates and outdoor housing, as well as "extras", such as toys, bath and grooming products, dining bowls, vitamin supplements, furniture and beds, gifts, travel accessories and wearables.

In Unity's latest survey of 1,000 US households about purchases of pet accessories and extras, the same percentage of households (41%)bought pet extras as did in 2001. But the amount of money consumers spent annually on pet accessories more than doubled since 2001, from US$97 to US$215.

(Source: PFI)