Per capita cheese consumption in the USUS dog treat and chew market revenue
Per capita cheese consumption in the US and the American dog treat market have climbed together for eighteen years (r = 0.960), each absolutely convinced that its growth is due to the inherent merits of its product. They are both right and both wrong. Americans eat more cheese; Americans' dogs eat more everything. The family has expanded its snack drawer in both directions.
Per capita cheese consumption rose from about 32 pounds per American per year in 2005 to over 41 pounds by 2022, led by pizza, Mexican-style cheese for tacos and burritos, and the addition of cheese to nearly every fast food menu item that previously lacked it. The dog treat market grew from under $3 billion to over $9 billion in the same window, led by 'functional' treats with probiotics, CBD, and glucosamine. The shared driver is straightforward: rising disposable income met a food industry that learned to package small pleasures for family members of every species.
The cheese board grows; the kibble bowl grows. Both members of the household snack equally well.
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Want to learn more about why correlations like “Per capita cheese consumption in the US” vs “US dog treat and chew market revenue” don't prove causation? Read our guide to statistical thinking.
