US pet industry sales saw a 7.4% increase in 2023

Total US pet industry sales reached $147 billion (€135.6B) in 2023, a 7.4% increase compared to the previous year.

A new report released by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) in Global Pet Expo captures spending in four major categories, with pet food and treats accounting for $64.4 billion (€59.4B).

Expenditure in pet supplies, live animals and over-the-counter medicines hit $32 billion (€29.5B) last year.

The third category—vet care and product sales—saw spending of $38.3 billion (€35.3B), while $12.3 billion (€11.3B) was spent on services other than veterinary care, including boarding, grooming, insurance, training, pet sitting and walking. 

According to the APPA, the pet industry contributed $303 billion (€279.6B) to the US economy last year. In 2022, it contributed $260 billion (€239.9B).

Packaged Facts

On the other hand, Packaged Facts reported that the American pet retail market saw an 8.1% increase in sales in 2023, with a figure of $145.1 billion (€133.9B). 

For 2022, the market research firm reported $134.3 billion (€123.9B) in sales, a 9.4% increase over 2021.

Packaged Facts’ market sizing includes pet food and treats, non-food pet supplies, veterinary services (including product sales through vet clinics) and non-medical services. 

2020–2023: a comparative view

In 2022, the APPA reported total US pet sales of $136.8 billion (€126.2B), a 10.8% increase from 2021, when sales accounted for $123.6 billion (€114B).

Pet food and treats were the highest spend category in 2022, with sales accounting for $58.1 billion (€53.6B). This trend has been consistent over the last four years and before the pandemic.

Notably, the APPA described 2020 as a “banner year” for the industry, as sales exceeded $100 billion (€92.3B) for the first time in history. 

“The data has shown that the pet industry has remained incredibly strong since 2009 despite wide-scale economic challenges,” says the APPA’s President and CEO Peter Scott. “While there are signs of slowing, the industry is resilient, especially compared to other industries.”

Scott adds, “We forecast the industry’s expenditures to top $250 billion (€230.7B) by 2030.”

2024 outlook

For the rest of the year, the APPA has predicted that pet industry brands that will capitalize on new trends and the emergence of Gen Z pet owners “through targeted marketing efforts will outperform in the market.”

The report suggests that while millennials remain the largest number of pet owners, Gen Z is “changing the way” owners want to learn about and buy pet products. 

Data from Packaged Facts has supported this claim, too, with the American research firm highlighting that younger pet owners “feel more challenged” by economic difficulties compared to other generations, such as the high cost of pet food and supplies and differing attitudes on pet spending.