Procter & Gamble Co. will take its new Tampax Pearl tampon national by October.

        P&G officials said Tuesday that the newest innovation in its feminine-care division exceeded expectations in a Lexington, Ky., test market.

        While P&G's tampon market share is about 40 percent, well above its nearest competitor, Playtex Products Inc., sales have fallen slightly in the past year, according to market-tracker Information Resources Inc.

        The IRI data do not include some retailers, including Wal-Mart stores.

        With a new design that P&G thinks will improve comfort and reduce leakage, the product has a suggested price of $4.99 to $5.99 a box, more than the current Tampax price.

        When P&G bought Tampax owner Tambrands in 1997, it promised product innovation and now appears to be on the verge of delivering.

— Cliff Peale

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