A recent study by the advocacy group, the Alliance for Period Supplies, revealed that 25% of women experience menstrual inequity at any given moment due to income restraints. CVS, one of the largest retail pharmacy franchises, is doing its part to mitigate this issue by dropping prices on CVS branded personal hygiene products by 25%.
The company has also agreed to pay the sales taxes, or “pink tax,” on these products in select states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. The price decrease will apply to CVS Health and Live Better liners, pads, cups, and tampons.
Prices for feminine personal hygiene products have increased by an average of 12% in the last year, per the market research firm, IRI. The price increase is a result of a number of things at play, including inflation and the lag in transportation deliveries that occurred during 2020 and 2021.
Advocates for menstrual equity reason that personal hygiene products should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income. Some of those advocacy groups are even fighting for free pads and tampons to be a benefit of government-funded assistance programs since these products should be considered basic necessities.
“Too often period products are taxed as luxury items and not recognized as basic necessities,” the Alliance for Period Supplies advocacy group said in a statement. “Period products are taxed at a similar rate to items like decor, electronics, makeup and toys.”
Whether in the near future, cuts in prices and sales taxes will be applied to other popular brands, such as Tampax and Kotex, remains a question.
