Continuing the positive trend since March 2009, new volume sales data for peanut butter shows a significant increase for the months of July, August and September as compared to the same periods in 2008.

The new data from Information Resources, Inc. (I.R.I.) includes retail scan data from all retail outlets, including Walmart, most supermarkets, drug stores and mass market stores, and shows:

• July 2009 showed a 7.92 percent increase over the same period in 2008

• August 2009 showed an 18.60 percent increase over the same period in 2008

• September 2009 showed a 4.79 percent increase over the same period in 2008

"The work of the National Peanut Board and other industry groups has helped achieve the promising peanut butter sales each month since the first few months of 2009," said Raffaela Marie Fenn, NPB's president and managing director.

"These latest numbers along with our ongoing consumer research continue to show that everyone from consumers to health care professionals and culinarians has a strong love and loyalty to peanuts, peanut butter and peanut products. And initiatives like NPB's consumer outreach tour and the use of the new 'Peanuts: Energy for the Good Life' campaign are making great strides to ensure a bright future for USA-grown peanuts, peanut butter and peanut products."