Philip Morris has raised the price of Marlboro, the top selling cigarette in Spain, it was announced on Wednesday, taking the price back to where it was before the US manufacturer triggered a price war at the end of January.

A pack of Marlboro will cost Euro 2.75 (US$ 3.28) again, according to new prices published in the day's Official State Bulletin. The rest of its brands also rise. Philip Morris, part of the Altria Group, cut its prices after the Spanish government raised tobacco taxes in a bid to curb smoking. The other major manufacturers Altadis and Japan Tobacco quickly followed suit. Last week the government raised taxes further in a bid to put a brake on the price war. (pi)