Inmar announced today that annual coupon use is on the rise for the first time since 1992. Coupon distribution hit the highest level recorded since Inmar began tracking coupon trends in 1988. For the first time in 17 years, consumers used more coupons than they did the year before. 3.3 billion consumer packaged goods coupons were redeemed in 2009. This was a 27% increase over the 2.6 billion redeemed in 2008.
Inmar says coupon use began rising in October 2008, which was when news of the financial crisis hit. Since then there have been five consecutive quarters of double digit growth in coupon usage. Inmar says manufacturers are also making more coupons available. Inmar says brands issued 367 billion coupons in 2009. The average face value of the coupons was $1.44.
