Philip Morris USA raises cigarette prices

Reuters ^ | Dec 13, 2006

[SheLion]

CHICAGO, Dec 13 - Philip Morris USA said on Wednesday it was raising prices on all its cigarette brands by 10 cents per pack as of Dec. 18, a move that had been expected by analysts.

The price increase was accomplished by lowering promotional discounts the company offers on its Marlboro, Virginia Slims, Parliament and Basic brands, while raising list prices on other brands, a spokesman for the unit of Altria Group Inc. <MO.N> said.

Since changes in promotional discounts are typically passed on to consumers, the move could raise the average price a smoker pays for a pack of top-selling Marlboro cigarettes at a convenience store to $4.04 from $3.94, for example. Price increases can vary if retailers also add to the increase.

Six cents of the increase will be needed to cover increased payments by Philip Morris to U.S. states under the Master Settlement Agreement between cigarette companies and the states, Citigroup analyst Bonnie Herzog said in a research note.

"However, overall we believe this proves there is still some pricing power left for the industry," said Herzog, who rates Altria as a "buy." "We expect the other manufacturers will follow suit."

The move comes about a year after Philip Morris USA last increased prices, a 5-cent-per-pack hike in December 2005.

[SheLion]

I HATE Phillip Morris!!! Thank God I don't buy any of their cigarettes! This corporation really sucks.

I have been following them for years. They are despicable!

They put these obnoxious ads on TV about how everyone should quit smoking, yet they need the money
from smokers???!!!!

If they wanted people to quit so bad, they would stop MAKING CIGARETTES!!!!

They talk about of both sides of their filthy mouths!!!!!

"Six cents of the increase will be needed to cover increased payments by Philip Morris to U.S.
states under the Master Settlement Agreement between cigarette companies and the states."

Now, that money has already been set and allocated to the states. Who do they think they
are kidding?!

Maine already has a $20 tax on a carton of cigarettes. And other states are sky high as well, so this
is really going to be a hard ship for a lot of smokers.

SMOKERS! GET A LIFE! ROLL YOUR OWN!!! And to HELL with Phillip Morris!!!!!

[ShadowDancer]

SMOKERS! GET A LIFE! ROLL YOUR OWN!!!

[SheLion]

Phillip Morris Sucks ping!

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

I know what you can get me for Festivus!

[Fierce Allegiance]

You just need a high-school friend who is a president there who sends you free carton coupons. :)

[ThomasNast]

In AZ, they raised the tax per pack by 80 cents to pay for education. If all us smokers quit smoking, who's going to pay for education?

We are just the usable part of the populous expected to fund everyone else's health care, education, you name it.

Apparently, people can't take care of themselves so the government expects the smokers to take care of them due to the fact that the evil smokers deserve to be punished for their crime of smoking.

[aligncare]

People, people...just more incentive to quit. Come over to the other side...life is fine without tobacco addiction...you could always take up pounding nails into your head instead...makes just about as much sense as smoking.

[Fierce Allegiance]

80 cents, or 8 tenths of a cent?

[MSF BU]

Hi! Your up in Aroostook? Have one of those truckers who are traveling I-95 pick you up a case or two in North Carolina!

[ThomasNast]

80 cents.

8 bucks a carton.

[Fierce Allegiance]

You know, of my 3 good friends from high school, and myself, only one of us smoked, me. I'm the only one still alive. Statistics tell me I am better off smoking.

None of my siblings smoke, but i do. I have never had a major health issue, they all have. I'm better off smoking.

My mom smokes and is alive. My dad didn't, and is dead. I wish he smoked. he may still be alive.

[SheLion]

Some of the BS by Phillip Morris:

Philip Morris to stop shipments to illegal sellers  

Jan 26, 2006

CHICAGO, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Cigarette maker Philip Morris USA on Thursday said it agreed to suspend shipments to customers that states find have illegally sold cigarettes over the Internet or by fax, mail or telephone.

The unit of Altria Group Inc. (MO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) reached the agreement with attorneys general in 33 states and other jurisdictions as a way of trying to curtail illegal sales of cigarettes over the Internet and through the mail.

Opponents of these "remote" sales of cigarettes argue that they let customers avoid age restrictions for purchasing cigarettes, as well as state excise taxes.

The maker of Marlboro and other brands also said that it would reduce the volume of its cigarettes available to customers that a state determines have indirectly engaged in illegal remote sales.

It will also stop a retailer from participating in its trade programs -- where retailers receive financial incentives for certain activity -- if a state determines that the retailer has engaged in illegal remote selling of the company's cigarettes.

The agreement "sets a framework for continued information sharing with law enforcement and support of their efforts to eliminate illegal sales of Philip Morris USA products," Denise Keane, Philip Morris USA general counsel, said in a news release.

A Philip Morris spokesman did not return a phone call seeking further comment.

Altria shares were up 5 cents at $73.90 in late Thursday afternoon trading on the NYSE.

 

Philip Morris USA Asks ''Please Don't Give Our Cigarette Brands a Part in Your Movie''
Tuesday November 14, 8:08 pm ET

RICHMOND, Va.--Philip Morris USA (PM USA) is asking entertainment industry decision-makers to voluntarily eliminate the use of its products from their productions with a new trade print advertising campaign. Designed to raise awareness of PM USA's positions on product placement and the use of its brand imagery, the campaign also encourages the industry to reduce or eliminate smoking scenes in movies directed at youth.

"Movies have the power to amuse, delight, teach and inspire. However, some studies suggest they may also influence a child's decision to smoke,"(1)(2)(3) said Jennifer Hunter, vice president, Youth Smoking Prevention and Cessation Support for Philip Morris USA.

The ads will appear in Daily Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and other trade publications beginning the week of November 13th.

Philip Morris USA does not want its brands or brand imagery depicted in movies and television shows. Since 1990, Philip Morris USA's policy has been to deny all requests for permission to use or display its brands in movies and television shows intended for general audiences.

Philip Morris USA is an operating company of Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO - News). For more information about Philip Morris USA, our programs and positions on tobacco-related issues, please visit us at www.philipmorrrisusa.com.

To view the ads, please go to the address below:

http://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/downloads/about_us/pressroom/ general/pdf/smoking_in_movies_ads.pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

(1) Sargent, J.D., Beach, M.L., et al. (2005). Exposure to movie smoking: Its relation to smoking initiation among US adolescents. Pediatrics, 116,1183-1191.

(2) Sargent, J.D., Dalton, M.A., et. al. (2002). Viewing tobacco use in movies: Does it shape attitudes that mediate adolescent smoking? American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 22(3), 137-145.

(3) Pechmann, C., and Shih, C. (1999). Smoking scenes in movies and antismoking advertisements before movies: Effects on youth. Journal of Marketing, 63, 1-13.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/061114/20061114006560.html?.v=1

Philip Morris Raises Prices on Marlboros, Other Smokes
AP ^ | Dec 10, 2004 | Mary Ellen Lloyd

Posted on 12/10/2004 4:50:10 PM EST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Philip Morris U.S.A. Reiterates Support for Federal Legislation To Establish Food and Drug Administration Regulation of Tobacco Products

Friday June 14, 2:48 pm Eastern Time

 

NEW YORK-- -June 14, 2002--Philip Morris U.S.A.

Company Believes Senator Kennedy's Introduction of FDA Bill is Positive Step

Philip Morris U.S.A. strongly supports the passage of legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meaningful and effective authority to regulate cigarettes.

The Company welcomes the introduction of legislation by Senators Kennedy, DeWine and Durbin and looks forward to working with members of Congress as they consider legislation on this issue.

"Philip Morris U.S.A. is glad that Senator Kennedy's bill sensibly creates a new chapter of the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act that responds to the unique regulatory challenges posed by tobacco products," said Michael Pfeil, Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Philip Morris U.S.A. "As such, we believe that its introduction is a positive step that should help move the process forward towards ultimate passage of an FDA tobacco bill."

The Company supports FDA regulation in each area covered by Senator Kennedy's bill, from the imposition of performance standards to reduce harm, to new warning labels, to good manufacturing practices, to FDA authority over the development and responsible marketing of potentially reduced risk products.

"Where there are differences, they are in degree only," said Pfeil. "All of Philip Morris U.S.A.'s suggestions to improve this bill are grounded in the notion that the point of FDA regulation should be to reduce harm, while accepting that tobacco products are legitimate for adults to use if they want to. We look forward to working with the Senate's Health Committee as it proceeds to consider this important legislation."

The Company also believes that a tobacco quota buyout is, and should remain, linked to FDA regulation. Philip Morris U.S.A. strongly supports concepts like those embodied in the McIntyre-Davis bill (H.R. 3940) and urges Congress' timely consideration of legislation to address both issues.

[ThomasNast]

You know, of my 3 good friends from high school, and myself, only one of us smoked, me. I'm the only one still alive.

People in my church band keep nagging me because I smoke. But I'm never the one who gets sick and I can knock out more pushups than any of them.

When I bring such things up they say, "But think of much MORE healthier you'd be if you quit."

[Vaquero]

My favorite 'smart' movie this past year was 'Thank You For Smoking"

....it Tarred and Nicotine'd EVERYONE. It was no puff piece for anyone and tore 'a new one' to, 'Big Tobacco', anti smoking NAZI politicians, 'The Marlboro Man', Government @ssholes, and SPINMEISTERS of every stripe and persuasion.

It offends everone.......I loved it and was pleasantly surprized that it was not anti-conservative......and as it turns out the original Novel was written by Bill Buckleys son.

[Graybeard58]

If all us smokers quit smoking, who's going to pay for education?

Don't you have a state lottery in Arizona? After all, states that have it claim that money goes to education. What a joke.

[Graybeard58]

They put these obnoxious ads on TV about how everyone should quit smoking, yet they need the money from smokers???!!!!

The booze industry does the same thing. I've seen their ads saying they want everybody to drink in moderation. I saw the figures years ago how about 10% of the population is considered heavy or problem drinkers and yet that small segment represents about 80% of liquor sales.

[aligncare]

You can't be serious with that analysis. Personal anecdotal evidence is not a substitute for scientific evidence.

Look, I don't know you and could care less what you die of. It's not just mortality, but morbidity--illness and quality of life--that should concern smokers.

Whether it's lung cancer, emphysema or heart disease--or just social isolation (because most people can't stand being around a stinky smoker), the truth is smokers have an increased risk of contracting these illnesses.

Show me ONE pro athlete who smokes...then maybe I'll take up smoking.

[THEUPMAN]

yes , the other side ...


I came over to the other side about 6 years ago. I just couldn't stand giving money to the state. My disgust for government spending actually killed my desire to puff.(after 30 years of bliss)

Every time I blew a little smoke I could see the power of the liberal left growing .... and using my coins to do it.

I suppose I could have just started rolling my own or something but that just didn't seem like enough.

I quit.

They won't get another penny from me. ( at least not from that tax)

[SheLion]

In AZ, they raised the tax per pack by 80 cents to pay for education. If all us smokers quit smoking, who's going to pay for education?

Maine smokers pay $2.00 on a PACK and $20.00 on a carton to keep the little pet programs going in this state.

How Baldacci and our lawmakers live with themselves is beyond me!

Thank God I roll my own.  Fork the state coffers!

[TankerKC]

You know, of my 3 good friends from high school, and myself, only one of us smoked, me. I'm the only one still alive. Statistics tell me I am better off smoking

People keep telling me the sky is blue, but when I looked early this morning, it was black. The sky IS black.