Per capita cheese consumption in the USUS pet industry spending
The American appetite for cheese and the American appetite for spending on pets have, for eighteen years running, walked in step with each other (r = 0.960) in a way that sounds frivolous until you realize how much of the national checkbook now goes to both. We eat more mozzarella; we also pay more for the dog's dental cleaning. Both feel non-negotiable in the moment. Both add up.
Per capita US cheese consumption grew from about 32 pounds per person annually to over 41 pounds, led by pizza and by cheese's embedding into fast food menus that didn't previously lean on dairy; the pet industry grew from about $37 billion to over $136 billion in the same window, with veterinary services alone crossing $35 billion. These are parallel stories of American food-adjacent spending expanding into areas that were, a generation ago, either smaller or didn't exist. The median monthly pet spending for US dog owners in 2022 was $250, which is higher than the median monthly cheese budget for all but the most committed households.
The cheese plate grows. The kibble bowl grows. The family is fed, in several directions at once.
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