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Rising Infant Formula Costs to the WIC Program: Recent Trends in Rebates and Wholesale Prices—This study estimated that 57 to 68 percent of all infant formula sold in the United States was purchased through WIC, based on 2004-06 data, and that formula costs to the WIC program have increased. Typically, WIC State agencies receive substantial rebates from manufacturers for each can of formula provided through the program. After adjusting for inflation, net wholesale prices increased by an average 73 percent for 26 fluid ounces of reconstituted formula between States’ contracts in effect in December 2008 and the States’ previous contracts. As a result of the increase in real net wholesale prices, WIC paid about $127 million more for infant formula over the course of a year. (February 2010)
The WIC Program: Background, Trends, and Economic Issues—This report examines current issues facing the WIC Program, focusing on issues with important economic implications, such as expansion of the WIC Program, Federal funding and State incentives, funding for nutrition services and administration (NSA), potential impacts of revised WIC food packages, food prices and WIC, infant formula costs, WIC’s effect on the health of participants, effectiveness of WIC’s nutrition education program, WIC and childhood obesity, and WIC and breastfeeding rates. (April 2009)
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