CVS Drops Price On Period Products, Will Pay “Pink Tax”
Feel like you’re paying a lot more for period products these days? You’re not wrong. Tampon prices increased 12.2% and liners went up 11.6% at retail stores for the year ending October 2nd, according to the latest data from market research firm IRI. That’s a lot of extra expense for something women need, but CVS is stepping in to help. The chain has announced that they’re cutting prices on store-brand feminine hygiene products and will pay the sales tax on those products in a dozen states.
Starting today (Thursday, October 13th), prices on CVS Health and Live Better tampons, pads, liners and cups will be cut by 25%. And last week, CVS started paying sales tax for customers on period products in 12 states — Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The retailer explains that it can’t cover taxes in other states that levy them because of laws preventing third parties from paying taxes on a customer’s behalf.
These price cuts are the most recent step in an effort to close the gap between the cost of women’s and men’s personal health products and eliminate sales tax on period products – which is known as the “pink tax” or “tampon tax.” The Alliance for Period Supplies, an advocacy group working to expand access to feminine hygiene products, reports that 23 states already exempt these items from taxes and advocates are pushing for more states to do so. “Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” the organization said. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup and toys.”
You’ve got to start somewhere, so thanks CVS. Now if we could get more retailers to do the same!
