Kimberly-Clark to Raise Prices for Kleenex, Huggies

Consumer and industrial healthcare products maker Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB) said Thursday it is raising prices of certain child-care products and consumer tissues to deal with rising inflation and higher raw material and energy costs.

The Dallas-based company, which sells products such as Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kleenex and Cottonelle, said the price increases will be effective through the second and third quarters of 2011.

Selling prices in the U.S. and Canada for Huggies baby wipes and diapers will increase on average 3% to 7% starting anytime between June 19 and August 17. Prices for 1,000-sheet Cottonelle and Scott toilet paper will be up about 7% starting June 19.

Kimberly-Clark, which expects to book sales for these consumer products of $4 billion for 2010, said the prices will vary by brand and pack size.