Consumer spending for the US rose 1.4% in the first eight months of the year, helped by a 7% increase in spending in the pet products industry, according to USA Today.
The rise in pet product spending shows consumers are buying more luxury goods. Organic petfoods, timed cat food dispensers and other high-end pet supplies fueled the increase in spending, according to Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. He also said that the middle of the pet products market is shrinking, as consumers opt for either premium petfoods or cheap petfoods due to the weak economy.
"People are cutting back on themselves more than they're cutting back on pets," Vetere said.
2 top trends for 2021 according to the pet food industry
New shelter data casts doubt on whether the pet population and pet ownership are truly growing.
Shelter pet adoption numbers down in 2020, but high rate
While the pandemic caused unprecedented suffering worldwide in 2020, the disruptions to dogs, cats and other pets adoption numbers may normalize in 2021.