Bandag boosts tread rubber prices

MUSCATINE, Iowa (April 3)—Bandag Inc. raised prices 3.5 percent on its tread rubber April 1. The increase affects all Bandag dealers in the U.S. and Canada and only applies to tread rubber, the company said. Rising oil costs and subsequent increases in the prices of raw materials spurred the hike, Bandag said. To ease the immediate burden of the increase, Bandag said it will provide dealers with a credit equal to the increase for 10 percent of the tread rubber they purchased in the past 12 months.