U.S. soft drink sales volume falls more in '07 - report

NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - Industry publication Beverage Digest reported on Wednesday that sales volume of soft drinks in the United States posted a greater decline in 2007, as consumers opt for healthier options like bottled water.

Beverage Digest reported that total U.S. sales volume of carbonated soft drinks fell 2.3 percent in 2007, compared to a 0.6 percent decline in 2006 and a 0.2 percent decline in 2005.

But the retail dollar value of the U.S. carbonated soft drink business was up about 2.7 percent to $72 billion, due to the popularity of higher-priced energy drinks and price increases of traditional soft drinks. (Reporting by Martinne Geller, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)