Hoarding society: Illinoisans buying up cigarettes ahead of tax hike

Hoarding is a symptom of an ill society. ILL-inois raised its cigarette tax by $1-a-pack last month--the hike hits later this month. What is the result?

From NBC 5 Chicago:

Customers are stocking up on smokes, buying extra packs and cartons before the price goes up.

"It's a guy that usually buys one carton," William Fleischli, Vice President of the Illinois Association of Convenience stores told the State Journal-Register. "Now he wants to buy two or three, trying to save $18 or $20."

Fleischli said the state of Illinois is holding back on the sale of tax stamps, which are required to sell cigarettes at retail.

"They're restricting the sale of a product in anticipation of a product going up in price," he said. "They're going to gain because the price goes up."

Border state merchants are eagerly awaiting the influx of Illinois smokers to avoid the new tax.

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