Why are pads so expensive/never in any shops?

I don't know if this topic is in the correct area so i'm sorry if not, but period products never seems to be in any shops. I shop at Sainsburys, Morrisons or asda mostly, but pads are rarely in stock or not even cheap enough for me to buy. I just wondered if it was inflation causing it or panic buying? I haven't managed to get pads for the last few months apart from the occasional pack here and there. I like to stock up so I have a spare pack or two whenever i need them but I only have a few left and I'm worried shops just aren't stocking enough for the customers so they're upping the prices or just running out of them. I don't use tampons (they scare me) and I've never considered using any other type of product other than pads because pads are easiest for me. I'm the only girl in my family and it's hard to ask anyone else to get them for me other than myself. I used to buy Always pads but they are far too expensive now so instead I get Bodyform pads now, but they are getting more expensive nowadays. Maybe I should just get shopbranded pads but they are always useless in my experience. Grrr this is all just so annoying. Anyone else experiencing this?

Are you shopping at a time when the shelves have not been stocked up, perhaps? Have you tried going to somewhere else, like Boots or Superdrug or even Poundland?

https://www.cheekywipes.com › blog
Why Are Period Products So Expensive? - Cheeky Wipes
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Here's something that one part of the UK done.......
On 15 August 2022, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 (the Act) came into force. The Act ensures reasonably convenient access to period products, free of charge, as and when they are required.
https://www.gov.scot › policies › a...
Free period products - Poverty and social justice - gov.scot