This result over that last three years is an abrupt change from the steady decreases in percentages of smokers in the previous eight years, from 1997 to 2004.

Just over 24,000 U.S. adults, 18 years and older, were surveyed as to their smoking habits. Men smoked more than women: 23.9% versus 18.0%, respectively.

Asian-Americans had the lowest percentage of smokers as a group, with only 10.4% followed by Hispanic-Americans at 15.2%, non-Hispanic White-Americans at 21.9%, and non-Hispanic Black-Americans at 23.0%. The group with the highest percentage of smokers were American Indians/Alaskan Natives at a whooping 32.4%.

The report also stated that these two relationships: (1) more education showed a less likelihood of being a smoker and (2) adults living below the federal poverty level smoked 30.6% of the time while those adults living above the federal poverty level smoked 20.4% of the time.

Of the 20.8% of the people in the United States that smoke (about 45.3 million Americans), about 80.1% (36.3 million) people smoke every day (regularly) and 19.9% (9.0 million) people smoke on some days (irregularly).

The authors of the CDC report stated two primary reasons why they thought the rate of decrease in smoking was curtailed in 2006.