Coalition of Parent and Community Organizations Accuse Procter & Gamble of Price Gouging in Letter to CEO Jon Moeller About Skyrocketing Diaper Costs

Cost of Diapers Has Risen Unprecedented 22% Since 2018, Rising at Nearly Twice the Rate of Inflation 

ParentsTogether, MomsRising, Community Change, People’s Action, A Better Balance, Income Movement, Groundwork Collaborative, & United for Respect Say P&G Should Put Babies Over Profits and Reduce Diaper Costs for Consumers

September 19, 2022

In a new open letter to Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller, a coalition of parent organizations and community groups accuse the company of effectively taking advantage of caregivers and parents by disproportionately increasing diaper prices – and call on the company to put babies over profits and reduce in-store diaper prices. The letter explains: 

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen the steady rise of Pampers prices, executive salaries, and record shareholder payouts. In July 2021, Bloomberg reported that the cost of Pampers went from about $25 for 200 to $40 for 168 in just six months. That amounts to a 90% increase, and it continues to climb.

All signs point to Procter & Gamble being engaged in price gouging, taking advantage of the pandemic’s economic strain to disproportionately increase prices under the guise of inflation.  

From 2021-2022, P&G reported profit levels of $38-39 million, while shareholders received a staggering $19 billion in dividends and share repurchases – a record high of 66 consecutive years. 

The overall cost of diapers has risen an unprecedented 22% since 2018, while U.S. inflation rates peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. That means prices are rising at more than double the rate of inflation. Meanwhile, parents are struggling to keep their babies dry. You say Pampers is “dedicated to every baby’s happy, healthy development.” We ask that you keep your pledge to support the healthy development of babies by making diapers more affordable in order to increase diaper access. Parents and babies must be prioritized over sky high profits.

READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW.

The letter was organized by ParentsTogether, a nonprofit organization representing more than 3 million parents and families across the United States, and co-signed by A Better Balance, Community Change, Groundwork Collaborative, Income Movement, MomsRising, People’s Action, and United for Respect.

More than 17,000 parents signed a petition to Procter & Gamble urging the company to reduce prices. You can read stories from parents about the high cost of diapers and the impact it has on their families below.

FULL LETTER:

Dear Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller:

Pampers are essential for parents, but we can barely afford them.

We are writing to you, the CEO of America’s most popular diaper brand, representing millions of parents across America. Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen the steady rise of Pampers prices, executive salaries, and record shareholder payouts. In July 2021, Bloomberg reported that the cost of Pampers went from about $25 for 200 to $40 for 168 in just six months. That amounts to a 90% increase, and it continues to climb.

All signs point to Procter & Gamble being engaged in price gouging, taking advantage of the pandemic’s economic strain to disproportionately increase prices under the guise of inflation.  From 2021-2022, P&G reported profit levels of $38-39 million, while shareholders received a staggering $19 billion in dividends and share repurchases – a record high of 66 consecutive years. 

The overall cost of diapers has risen an unprecedented 22% since 2018, while U.S. inflation rates peaked at 9.1% in June 2022. That means prices are rising at more than double the rate of inflation. Meanwhile, parents are struggling to keep their babies dry. You say Pampers is “dedicated to every baby’s happy, healthy development.” We ask that you keep your pledge to support the healthy development of babies by making diapers more affordable in order to increase diaper access. Parents and babies must be prioritized over sky high profits.

Over 17,000 [and counting] parents have already signed a petition for reduced Pampers prices. We ask that you immediately address the incongruent price increases and reduce prices to pre-pandemic levels, valuing your loyal consumers instead of profit margins. 

We don’t want to be forced to choose between our next meal and our next box of Pampers. 

Signed,

A coalition of America’s leading parent, child, and economic justice organizations representing 4+ million parents including:

  • A Better Balance
  • Community Change
  • Groundwork Collaborative
  • Income Movement
  • ParentsTogether
  • People’s Action
  • MomsRising
  • United for Respect

Below, we’ve included some urgent messages from parents around the country:

“My baby loves Pampers Pure and they’re one of the best diapers, but to keep raising prices on something we need for baby’s health is so bad.“ – Melissa G., Park Ridge, IL 

“Having a newborn, the price of diapers is killing my pocket. The box cost me $44 dollars and it only lasted me 2 weeks.” – Mary L., Lawrence, MA

“Please stop raising these diapers [prices]. I have a 10 month old and being a single mother of two [is] getting so frustrating and depressing. My sister has a 20 month old with William’s syndrome and will always need diapers–please help us.” – Suzette S., Bronx, NY

“Come on P&G. Cincinnati was my home for 54 years before I relocated to AZ. As a stockholder I am extremely disappointed in this action as well as your anti-abortion funding. Get with the real people and not the right wing. Stop gouging young families AND support the thoughtful planning of new ones!” – Rebecca B., Phoenix, AZ

“I have a child in diapers. I work hard, and I’m tired of the lack of support for working parents. I am asking you to live your values and lower diaper prices.” – Cassie W., Denver, CO

“I work with a local teen mother mentoring program and the most requested need is diapers.  Too many people cannot afford to meet basic needs while corporations continue to rake in record profits and pay executives obscene salaries.”  – Laura L., Eggleston, VA

“Proctor and Gamble is the same company that is inflating prices in feminine products as well. As a female and a mother, I am truly appalled that a basic necessity for women and babies are highly unaffordable to people who desperately need these products.” – Ebony M., Oakland, CA 

“I have a child in diapers. I work hard, and I’m tired of the lack of support for working parents. I am asking you to live your values and lower diaper prices.” – Cassie W., Denver, CO

“I am a parent of a child in diapers who is concerned about the rising cost of diapers. Please do everything in your power to stabilize the cost of diapers, which are an essential item for parents and children!” – Jana, L., Oakland, CA