Soap Continues to Decline as an Outlet for Fats

While total consumption of soap and synthetic detergents in the United States has remained steady since World War II, at about 27 pounds per person annually, the separate use of each has shown a scissor-like trend. Consumption of synthetic detergents rose sharply from 3 pounds per capita in 1947 to a record 20 pounds in 1959 and has remained on this plateau. On the other hand, use of soap during the same period dropped from 24 pounds per person to only 7 pounds. Declining soap consumption has been accompanied by reduced use of fats and oils in these products, dropping from 2.4 billion pounds in 1947 to 0.9 billion in 1961, the lowest of record. Use of fats and oils in soap probably will continue to slide off, at a slower rate, as synthetics command more of the market.