FOI reference: FOI-2024-1727
You asked
I am interested in gaining access to data on the price of UK period products from as early as you have available until the latest release.
In particular, I am interested in getting access to granular data on the prices of tampons and period pants.
We said
Thank you for your query requesting data on the price of period products.
Price changes for period products are represented in subclass 12.1.3.2 Articles for personal hygiene and wellness of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), although the coverage of this category is wider than just these products. The index and 12-month inflation rate for this subclass are available back to 2015 and 2016 respectively on our website.
We have not produced more historical series for this subclass but the index and 12-month rate for the slightly broader class 12.1.2/3 Appliances, articles and products for personal care are available back to 1988 and 1989 respectively.
Period products within these aggregates were represented by basket item 520206 tampons until January 2023. The individual price quotes that were collected and used to compile the index for this item are available on our website from 2010. They can be found by downloading the 'Price quotes...' dataset for each month and searching for the item reference number 520206. Identifiable information, such as store, brand, and location have been removed from the dataset. Item level estimates of price change for tampons are included in the attached spreadsheet for the period January 1995 to January 2023. Aggregates based on the methodology used in the CPI are not held for earlier periods.
From January 2023, tampons have been replaced by sanitary towels in the sample. The individual price quotes are again available on our website and can be found by searching for item reference 520256. The item level index of price change for sanitary towels is also included in the attached spreadsheet. Sanitary towels were previously included in the indices from 1987 to January 1992 but the item level indices based on CPI methodology are not held for this period.
CPI data are National Statistics at subclass level and above. However, due to the smaller sample sizes involved, item level estimates of price change do not form part of the National Statistics series.