The statutory warning on the box says ‘Smoking kills; tobacco causes cancer’. But it is now turning detrimental for your wealth, too, as cigarette prices have increased 9-12 per cent in the past week.
For instance, a pack of 20 Classic branded cigarettes (from ITC) now costs Rs 120. The increase in this case has been nine per cent or Rs 10 per packet.
Similarly, retailers are selling a 10-stick pack of Navy Cut cigarettes (also from ITC) for Rs 48-50 instead of Rs 44. However, the maximum retail prices printed on these packets have not changed so far as cigarette makers are yet to formally announce a price rise. "The stockists have already increased the price. We have no option but to charge a higher price," said a retailer.
