Poor Economy ... Boosts Supplement Sales, Less Dr. Visits

Gloomy Economy Doesn't Deter Vitamin Sales

The current economic climate is dishing out bad economic news for almost every product category. Car sales, restaurant visits, jewelry and clothing purchases—they all were down in 2008 and are expected to fall further in 2009.

As a bit of bright light in an otherwise gloomy consumer environment, however, dietary supplements appear to be bucking the negative sales trend in the United States, according to the most recent sales data from Nielsen Co. For the 52 weeks ending December 27, 2008, vitamin and other supplement sales were up 5.9% to $3.8 billion in food, drug and mass merchandiser stores, Nielsen reports.

What about 2009? The Nielsen and other reports showing that consumers continue to equate dietary supplements with health and wellness. People are being proactive with their health in hopes to deter visits to the doctor .... which can be more expensive than taking care of yourself in the first place.