WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Philip Morris churns out Marlboros and Virginia Slims at the world’s largest cigarette factory in Richmond.

Now, Morris is raising the price of Marlboro and 17 other brands of cigarettes.

Parent company Altria said the per-pack price will hike up to 81 cents.

This increase comes almost a month before a national cigarette tax increase is set to begin in April.

“It just seems a little silly to raise the price on that,” said smoker Aaron Willings.  ”Everybody knows the tobacco companies aren’t hurting.”

Experts predict cigarette sales will decline by as much as 8% as a result of the tax increase.