Pet owners were spending more on their pets last year. However, the supplies category suffered. Now, treat and premium food spending bodes well for assertive veterinary practices and retailers who focus on engaging their customers about nutritional value and overall wellness for animals.
Source: Pet Product News, October 5, 2016.
John Gibbons speculates that the big rise in pet food spending is directly related to the drop in pet supplies spending, because most households face some limit on what they can spend in any given month. The average per-household expenditure on pet supplies was $116 in 2015, compared with $134 the year before. The drop was reflected across all income and age groups.