Recent figures from Stats NZ have shown that New Zealanders are now spending more on vaping and e-cigarettes than on ‘fading technology’ such as CDs, home theater and stereo systems, and home telephone international call services.
This shift was is reflected in an update of the consumer price index (CPI) basket of goods and services, used to measure inflation in the country. The CPI basket also reflects society and how tastes and spending patterns change over time. E-cigarettes, e-cigarette refills, and exercise equipment were some of the new additions that made it into the CPI basket.
Vaping has enjoyed growing popularity in New Zealand as prices for tobacco cigarettes soar and smoking rates drop. According to data from the country’s ministry of health, 21.2% of adults tried an e-cigarette in the year to June 30, 2019, a 16.2% increase from the same period in 2015-2016.