Supply chain problems and higher demand lead to a shortage of tampons and periodic products
People looking for tampons and other contemporary products find sparsely stocked store shelves and higher prices, reports CNN.
Driver news: Popular retailers CVS and Walgreens, as well as the major manufacturer Proctor & Gamble, acknowledged the lack of tampons and other period products and said they are working to meet consumer demand as soon as possible, according to CNN.
The big picture: Supply chain problems and historically high inflation have affected all kinds of goods. The prices of tampons are up about 10% from a year ago, Bloomberg reports, while the price of menstrual pads has increased by more than 8% in the same period.
- Contributing to the rising prices is an increase in the cost of making the products. Material manufacturers need ̵[ads1]1; cotton and plastic – have been in demand in personal protective equipment since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine restricted the supply of fertilizer needed to grow cotton, reports CNN.
What they say: A spokesman for Procter & Gamble, which owns the brands Tampax and Always, gave higher demand for an advertising campaign the company unveiled in July 2020 with comedian Amy Schumer, Time reported.
- Since then, “retail growth has exploded,” the spokesman said.
- “We understand that it is frustrating for consumers when they do not find what they need,” the CNN spokesman said. “We can assure you that this is a temporary situation.”
Go deeper: Inflation is rising 8.6%, the fastest pace in over 40 years
