Business
Menstrual products prices skyrocketing from inflation, tariffs
Always products are displayed on a shelf in a supermarket in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina October 29, 2024.
Dado Ruvic | Reuters
Rising inflation and ever-changing tariff policies have led to higher prices across store shelves over the past few years, squeezing consumers’ budgets.
An often overlooked example: menstrual products.
The average price of menstrual products, including sanitary pads and tampons, has risen nearly 40% since 2020, from roughly $5.37 per unit to $7.43 per unit, according to February data from Chicago-based market research firm Circana.
Dollar sales from menstrual products have grown by nearly 30% over that same period, according to Circana.
But at the same time, sales of menstrual products — which broadly includes pads, tampons, liners and more — have seen a roughly 6% decrease since 2022, falling incrementally each year, according to data from NielsenIQ.
The data analytics company noted that items across the store have seen average unit price increases, with the dollar volume of consumer packaged goods at large rising 2.7% year-to-date. Those price increases are in line with climbing inflation, with the latest consumer price index in February showing a 2.4% annual rise.
The latest CPI data found that inflation in personal care products in the U.S. has jumped dramatically, up 22.1% in February from January 2020.
But because menstrual products are a necessity for a large portion of the population, those costs may be hurting consumers.
“I do think that we’re at a point where consumers in general are having to choose whether they can buy food for their family, or buy prescriptions for their family. Some things that we do typically define as a necessity, people are finding alternatives for or going without,” said Sarah Broyd, a partner with consultancy firm Clarkston Consulting.
Broyd said the gap between higher prices and declining sales shows consumers may be searching for alternatives out of necessity.
Menstrual products haven’t just been hit by inflation, either. According to government data, the U.S. collected $115 million through tariffs on menstrual products containing cotton in 2025, compared with just $42 million in 2020.
The U.S. imported the majority of its menstrual products from Canada, China and Mexico in 2024, according to the World Bank. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on all three of those countries at varying levels over the past year.
Those added costs come on top of the so-called “pink tax,” where some states place a sales tax on menstrual products. According to 2025 data from Statista, Tennessee, Mississippi and Indiana have the highest sales tax on menstrual products at 7%. Products that are deemed “medical devices” are often excluded from sales taxes.
‘A subscription service to be a woman’
For 30-year-old Dafna Diamant, the rising price of menstrual products has become noticeable at the cash register and a drag on her monthly expenses.
The New York resident said she’s noticed her usual pack of roughly 18 tampons rise to somewhere around $25, especially over the past year.
“It’s crazy, and it just feels like as a woman, you have to pay sometimes $50 every couple months,” Diamant told CNBC. “And for some people, it takes a toll on the income.”
Diamant said she feels particularly frustrated because it’s not a monthly expense she can go without. She often buys store-brand period products at retailers like CVS and Walgreens, yet she said she’s still shocked by the sticker price.
“It still feels like a subscription service to be a woman,” Diamant told CNBC. “You have to pay every month to be fertile.”
Even larger companies have felt the effects. Procter & Gamble, the parent company of menstrual product brand Always, said in July that it was raising prices on 25% of its personal care and household products due to a $1 billion total annual tariff impact. It manufactures its Always products across facilities in Maine, Utah and Canada, according to the company.
P&G declined to comment for this story.
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of menstrual product brand Kotex, said on an earnings call in April that the company incurred a total of $300 million in gross costs from tariffs, with more than half of that related to tariffs on China. The company did not respond to CNBC’s requests for comment.
Broyd, the partner at Clarkston Consulting, said menstrual products have been hit with a “triple whammy” of rising raw material costs, inflation across energy and supply chains, and cross-border friction from tariffs.
“When you think about plastic and pulp and some of the main components of feminine care products, they’re largely probably coming from overseas and then getting hit with that much more of tariffs,” Broyd said.
She added that these tariffs are on top of already alleged higher levies on other women’s products, the subject of Congress’ Pink Tariffs Study Act introduced last year by Democrats to determine whether the U.S. tariff system is “regressive” or has a “gender bias.”
As prices continue to shoot up, Broyd said she believes companies will continue to reevaluate their portfolios and potentially sell off their feminine care segments to focus on businesses with higher margins. In November, Edgewell Personal Care sold its feminine care business to a company in Sweden for $340 million.
“You’re seeing these more niche, more startup type brands that are popping up in stores. … That’s the biggest growth,” Broyd said. “People that have the ability to flex up and buy more organic or products that they trust, they’ll spend that price premium. But for other consumers that don’t have the discretionary income to do that, they’re going to trade down and go private label, or go without.”
The rise of reusables
Diamant said she and her friends are now trying period underwear instead of single-use products to streamline their expenses.
A growing number of people have been trying reusable period products, primarily because they’re environmentally friendly and cheaper.
Major manufacturers have often relied on brand loyalty for their products, which could take a hit if consumers turn to alternatives.
“If you’re in fem care, you’re going to be using Kotex for 40 years. If you’re in Depend, you’re going to be using Depend for 40 years, right?” Kimberly-Clark CEO Michael Hsu said on a November earnings call. “There is long-duration frequency. There’s a lot of expenditure for consumers, and so because of that, they want to have an ongoing relation with us.”
Saalt, a reusable period products company offering cups, discs and underwear, said it estimates that 16% to 20% of U.S. consumers have tried or used reusable menstrual products, consisting of mostly younger consumers.
“Affordability is huge,” CEO Cherie Hoeger told CNBC. “When you look at our product, a cup or disc can last 10 years, and our product is only in the $30 price range. … They’re able to save up to $1,800 on the lifespan of that cup or disc, and that’s on the low end.”
Saalt, which launched in 2018, hit revenues of eight figures in its third year of business, Hoeger said. The company declined to disclose details of its financials, but she said demand has grown year-over-year since it launched.
Among Generation Z, Hoeger said the top reason for switching to reusables is pricing.
“They usually have some affinity toward sustainability and climate change, but it’s never their number one,” Hoeger said.
The rise of reusables may be contributing to the declining sales of single-use period products over the past few years. It also coincides with recent studies indicating that tampons could contain lead or other harmful ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration investigated the presence of metals and determined there was no risk.
Riding that momentum, other companies like Knix, MeLuna, Flex and more have entered the reusables space and garnered growing market share as consumers search for alternatives.
“Affordability is the crux; it’s the root problem,” Hoeger said. “Without affordability for these period products, you have real economic consequences for women to happen.”
I’m a long-term investor focused on U.S. and European equities, with a dual emphasis on undervalued growth stocks and high-quality dividend growers. Through years of experience, I’ve learned that sustained profitability—evident in strong margins, stable and expanding free cash flow, and high returns on invested capital—is a more reliable driver of returns than valuation alone. I manage one of my portfolios publicly on eToro, where I qualified as a Popular Investor, allowing others to copy my real-time investment decisions. My background spans Economics, Classical Philology, Philosophy and Theology. This interdisciplinary foundation sharpens both my quantitative analysis and my ability to interpret market narratives through a broader, long-term lens. I started investing when I became a father. By managing wisely what I received and earn, I aim to ensure for me and my children that we don’t have so much that we don’t have to do anything, but that we have enough assets to be free to do what we want. The goal is not to free myself from work, but to make sure I can work in the place and in a way where I can fully express myself.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Zelenskiy urges allies to keep up pressure on Russia ahead of talks with US
Long-haul trucker Miguel Caveda recently spent around $1,800 on diesel fuel during a week on the road, about 40% more than he typically paid before the Iran war began.
The sudden surge in diesel prices has eroded Caveda’s profit and upended his business in other ways, too. He has started searching out lighter hauls and avoiding hilly routes that guzzle fuel. He is also keenly aware that the steeper fuel costs will eventually trickle into the prices consumers pay for goods he is carrying—from tires to watermelon—assuming his business survives.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Everton delivered a commanding performance at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium, thrashing Chelsea 3-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, March 21, 2026, with a brace from Beto and a stunning strike from Iliman Ndiaye sealing a result that boosted the Toffees’ European ambitions while intensifying scrutiny on Blues manager Liam Rosenior.
The Matchweek 31 clash, Everton’s first home game against Chelsea at the waterfront venue, saw David Moyes’s side produce one of their most complete displays of the 2025-26 season. Beto opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a delicate finish over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after latching onto James Garner’s sublime through ball. The Portuguese forward doubled the lead in the 62nd minute, powering home from Idrissa Gueye’s assist to make it 2-0.
Iliman Ndiaye capped the rout in the 76th minute with a brilliant curled finish into the far corner, assisted by Beto, who turned provider after a long pass from Jordan Pickford. The goal marked Ndiaye’s clinical contribution and brought the Hill Dickinson Stadium to its feet amid an electric atmosphere.
Everton goalkeeper Pickford earned his 100th clean sheet for the club with key saves, including two outstanding stops from Enzo Fernández either side of halftime, denying Chelsea any route back into the contest. The Toffees dominated possession at times, pressed relentlessly and exploited Chelsea’s disjointed defending.
For Chelsea, the defeat marked a fourth consecutive loss across all competitions, following a midweek Champions League humbling against Paris Saint-Germain. Rosenior admitted post-match that his team’s performance was “nowhere near” the level expected, with the Blues struggling to create clear chances despite fielding a talented attacking lineup.
The result lifted Everton to seventh in the Premier League table on 46 points from 31 games, putting them firmly in the mix for European qualification — potentially Champions League spots if results elsewhere align. Chelsea remained in sixth on 48 points but saw their buffer shrink, with pressure mounting on Rosenior amid a poor run that has seen back-to-back 3-0 defeats.
Highlights captured the game’s key moments: Beto’s clinical first goal showcased his hold-up play and finishing instinct, while his second demonstrated improved work rate and positioning. Ndiaye’s third was a moment of individual brilliance, curling the ball past Sanchez from the edge of the box after evading Jorrel Hato.
Everton controlled the narrative throughout, with Garner and Gueye anchoring midfield effectively and the defense, led by Jarrad Branthwaite, standing firm. Chelsea’s frustrations boiled over with late bookings and substitutions that failed to spark a comeback.
Post-match, Moyes praised his players’ intensity and execution, noting the significance of consecutive home league wins at the new stadium — a first this season. “The atmosphere was incredible, and the lads gave everything,” he said. Rosenior, meanwhile, highlighted areas for improvement, emphasizing the need for better cohesion and resilience.
The victory marked Everton’s biggest win over Chelsea since 1987 and underscored their progress under Moyes in the new home. Fans celebrated wildly, with social media buzzing over Beto’s impact — his fifth and sixth goals of the season — and the team’s upward trajectory.
Chelsea now face a quick turnaround, with upcoming fixtures testing their credentials further. Everton will look to build momentum as they chase a top-six finish in a competitive race.
Full-match and extended highlights are available on official Premier League channels, NBC Sports, Sky Sports, BBC Sport and club websites, capturing the goals, saves and atmosphere that defined the evening.
The Investment Doctor is a financial writer, highlighting European small-caps with a 5-7 year investment horizon. He strongly believes a portfolio should consist of a mixture of dividend and growth stocks.
He is the leader of the investment group European Small Cap Ideas which offers exclusive access to actionable research on appealing Europe-focused investment opportunities not found elsewhere. The a focus is on high-quality ideas in the small-cap space, with emphasis on capital gains and dividend income for continuous cash flow. Features include: two model portfolios – the European Small Cap Ideas portfolio and the European REIT Portfolio, weekly updates, educational content to learn more about the European investing opportunities, and an active chat room to discuss the latest developments of the portfolio holdings. Learn more.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
Allegations against ICC war crimes prosecutor still under review despite report he was cleared
Allegations against ICC war crimes prosecutor still under review despite report he was cleared
DoorDash: Order Acceleration Defies A Weaker Macro
Driven Brands earnings ahead: Can investors trust the numbers?
IDEAYA delays darovasertib trial results to mid-April
Artificial intelligence is reshaping Australia’s job market at an unprecedented pace, with technical and strategic AI roles leading the charge as the fastest-growing opportunities in 2026. LinkedIn’s annual “Jobs on the Rise” report, released in January and based on millions of job postings and hires from 2023 to mid-2025, places AI Engineer at the top spot, highlighting a surge in demand driven by businesses accelerating AI adoption for productivity, automation and competitive advantage.
The report underscores that AI literacy has become the most sought-after skill across industries, with eight in ten global leaders preferring candidates proficient in AI tools even over those with more traditional experience. In Australia, this shift is creating high-paying roles in tech hubs like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while also spawning emerging positions in generative AI, ethics, deployment and strategy.
Here are 10 of the most prominent rising AI-related jobs in Australia for 2026, drawn from LinkedIn data, industry analyses and recruitment trends:
- AI Engineer (also known as Machine Learning Engineer) Tops LinkedIn’s 2026 list as the fastest-growing role nationwide. These professionals design, build and deploy AI systems that analyze data, recognize patterns and make predictions. Key skills include Large Language Models (LLM), LangChain and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG). Demand is highest in technology, IT services and consulting sectors, with strong hybrid and remote options. Salaries often range from $165,000 to $250,000 annually, per Hays recruitment data.
- Director of Artificial Intelligence Ranked fourth on LinkedIn’s rising jobs list, this C-suite position oversees AI strategy, team leadership and implementation across organizations. As companies embed AI into products, operations and innovation, executives with this expertise command packages around $250,000 or more, reflecting the strategic priority of AI upskilling at board level.
- LLM/Generative AI Engineer A rapidly expanding niche focused on fine-tuning large language models, building retrieval-augmented systems and ensuring safety in generative applications like chatbots and content creation. This role demands high compute resources and expertise in rapid iteration, making it one of the highest-growth and best-compensated technical positions in AI.
- AI Solutions Architect These specialists design scalable AI infrastructures, integrating models into enterprise systems while addressing compliance, security and performance. Demand surges as businesses move beyond pilots to production environments, particularly in finance, healthcare and government.
- MLOps Specialist / AI Platform Engineer Responsible for the operational side of AI — building pipelines, managing deployment, monitoring models and ensuring reliability at scale. As teams shift from experimentation to ecosystems of AI tools, MLOps roles bridge development and production, with strong demand in cloud-heavy Australian firms.
- AI Adoption & Enablement Manager Focuses on organizational change: training staff, driving AI tool integration and measuring adoption impact. This hybrid role combines technical knowledge with change management, helping workplaces transition amid AI disruption.
- Prompt Engineer / AI Specialist Experts in crafting effective prompts for LLMs to optimize outputs for business needs, from content generation to decision support. A lower-barrier entry point into AI, it’s growing fast as non-technical teams leverage generative tools.
- AI Ethics & Governance Specialist / Compliance Officer With Australia’s developing AI regulations and global ethical concerns, these roles ensure responsible deployment, bias mitigation and alignment with laws. Rising demand stems from risk management needs in high-stakes sectors.
- Data Scientist (with AI focus) While broader, the role increasingly incorporates advanced AI techniques for insights and forecasting. Australian employers seek those blending statistical modeling with LLM integration for actionable business outcomes.
- AI Trainer / Data Annotator Entry-to-mid-level positions involving labeling data, fine-tuning models for Australian contexts (accents, culture) and quality assurance. Essential for improving model accuracy, these roles support the foundational layer of AI development.
The boom reflects broader trends: organizations prioritize AI to combat skills shortages and boost efficiency, even as concerns about job displacement persist. Reports indicate potential for net job creation, though transitions require upskilling support. LinkedIn notes AI-related postings have exploded, with flexibility (hybrid/remote) common in many roles.
Experts emphasize that while AI automates routine tasks, it elevates demand for human-AI collaboration skills. Workers transitioning from software engineering, data roles or even non-tech fields benefit from targeted learning in tools like prompt engineering or model basics.
As Australia aims for a competitive edge in the global AI economy, these 10 roles represent prime opportunities for career growth in 2026. Job seekers are urged to build AI proficiency through courses, certifications and hands-on projects to capitalize on the surge.
Why Ruben Dias isn’t in Man City squad vs Arsenal as Carabao Cup final teams announced
Challenges And Opportunities As A Seeking Alpha Analyst Overseas
Bithumb CEO Reappointment Proposal Moves Forward Despite Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny
-
Tech7 days agoYour Legally Registered ‘Motorcycle’ Might Not Count Under Proposed US Law
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Adidas – Corporette.com
-
Politics2 days agoJenni Murray, Long-Serving Woman’s Hour Presenter, Dies Aged 75
-
Tech5 days agoAre Split Spacebars the Next Big Gaming Keyboard Trend?
-
Crypto World16 hours agoBest Crypto to Buy Now: Strategy Just Spent $1.57 Billion on Bitcoin During Fear While Early Investors Quietly Enter Pepeto for 150x Potential
-
News Videos4 days agoRBA board divided on rate cut, unusually buoyant share market | Finance Report | ABC NEWS
-
Crypto World17 hours agoBitcoin Price News: Bhutan Sells $72 Million in BTC Under Fiscal Pressure, but the Smart Money Entering Pepeto Sees What the Market Does Not
-
Business7 days agoSearch for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Enters Seventh Week with No Arrests
-
Crypto World2 days agoNIO (NIO) Stock Plunges 6.5% as Shelf Registration Sparks Dilution Worries
-
Business6 days agoAustralian shares drop as Iran war enters third week
-
Crypto World6 days agoCrypto Lender BlockFills Enters Chapter 11 with Up to $500M in Liabilities
-
Politics4 days agoThe House | The new register to protect children from their abusers shows Parliament at its best
-
Fashion6 days ago25 Celebrities with Curly Hair That Are Naturally Beautiful
-
Tech2 days agoinKONBINI Lets You Spend Summer Days Behind the Register
-
Crypto World4 days agoCanada’s FINTRAC revokes registrations of 23 crypto MSBs in AML crackdown
-
Politics5 days agoReal-time pollution monitoring calls after boy nearly dies
-
NewsBeat4 days agoResidents in North Lanarkshire reminded to register to vote in Scottish Parliament Election
-
Business6 days agoMeta planning major layoffs as AI spending and automation reshape workforce
-
News Videos4 days agoPARLIAMENT OF MALAWI – PAC MEETING WITH REGISTRAR OF FINANCIAL ON AMARYLLIS HOTEL – INQUIRY LIVE
-
Crypto World7 days ago
U.S. Oil Companies Post Record Profits as Oil Prices Break $100
You must be logged in to post a comment Login