{
  "id": 7834133,
  "title": "Classic Connect, Gold Flake Super Star now more expensive: ITC hikes cigarette prices again",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/classic-connect-gold-flake-super-star-now-more-expensive-itc-hikes",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-16T17:28:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/india/classic-connect-gold-flake-super-star-now-more-expensive-itc-hikes-cigarette-prices-again-11789579170306.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The tobacco giants ITC have increased the prices of their Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star cigarettes once more, citing higher tobacco taxes. Dealer checks indicate that the revised prices for these packs are already hitting the shelves. The price hike follows several rounds of price adjustments by ITC this year. A pack of 20 Classic Connect cigarettes is now sold for ₹428, up from ₹390 previously - a 9.74% increase. Gold Flake Super Star, on the other hand, has seen an even steeper increase: a pack of 10 cigarettes now costs ₹89, a 12.66% rise from the previous ₹79. The tax changes that led to these price increases took effect on February 1st. The new rates include a 40% GST rate and an additional excise duty ranging from ₹2,050 to ₹8,500 per 1,000 sticks, depending on the cigarette length and whether it has a filter. These higher taxes are pushing up consumer prices, especially for longer and filtered cigarettes.",
  "summary": "Higher tobacco taxes have led to increased cigarette prices, with ITC raising prices for Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star.",
  "key_points": [
    "ITC hikes prices of Classic Connect and Gold Flake Super Star cigarettes again",
    "Pack of 20 Classic Connect now ₹428, 9.74% increase from ₹390",
    "Pack of 10 Gold Flake Super Star now ₹89, 12.66% increase from ₹79"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Gold prices climb over 1% as oil and US Treasury yields fall",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/gold-prices-climb-over-1-as-oil-and-us-treasury-yields-fall",
        "published": "2026-09-16T16:02:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}