Do cigarette prices vary by brand, neighborhood, and store characteristics?
OBJECTIVE: We assessed the price variability of cigarettes by brand, neighborhood characteristics (racial/ethnic and youth composition, number of schools, and number of stores), and store type. METHODS: Trained research staff purchased three different brands of cigarettes (premium, menthol, and discount-all produced by the same company) at 214 stores in one metropolitan area. We assessed associations between price and neighborhood/store characteristics through multivariate regression, using four price variables as dependent variables-the price of each brand of cigarettes and the mean price across the three brands. RESULTS: We found that the price of cigarettes varied by neighborhood and store characteristics, although this variability differed by brand. For the same brand, the maximum price was 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than the lowest price. We found a positive association between the percentage of a neighborhood that was nonwhite and the price of discount and premium cigarettes as well
