Cigarette Prices Rise by 30-50 Drams: What's the Reason?

The newspaper "Zhoghovurd" reports that a price increase has once again occurred in the cigarette market in Armenia. This time, imported cigarettes have seen a price hike.

For example, a pack of "Monte Carlo" cigarettes has increased from 350 drams to 390 drams, while a pack of "Winston" white thin cigarettes, which was previously sold for 480 drams, is now priced at 510 drams. The price of a pack of "Marlboro" cigarettes has also risen by 50 drams, going from 550 drams to 600 drams.

It should be noted that local cigarette brands have also seen a price increase recently. For instance, a pack of locally produced "Ararat" cigarettes has risen by 50 drams from 550 drams to 600 drams, and "Garni" has gone from 250 drams to 280 drams.

One of the reasons for the increase in cigarette prices is the rise in excise taxes. To compensate for the loss of government budget revenues due to the reduction of profit and income tax burdens, excise tax rates on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages have increased since July 1 of this year.

More details can be found in today's issue of the newspaper.