Starbucks Corp. boosts beverage prices by 9 cents

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. said Monday it was raising prices for its coffee and other freshly made drinks in most of its U.S. stores by 9 cents this month, citing rising costs, including dairy products, energy and fuel.

In a statement issued after markets closed for regular trading, Starbucks said the price hike will take effect July 31, bumping the cost of most drinks by about 3 percent.

The increase will apply to coffees, lattes, frozen Frappuccinos and some tea-based drinks, including fruit and tea blends made behind the counters in all of its domestic company-operated stores, company spokesman Brandon Borrman said.

The increase will not apply to bottled drinks or food, Borrman said.

The company’s last price increase — 5 cents — took effect Oct. 3, 2006.

The world’s largest specialty coffee retailer has nearly than 6,300 company-operated stores in the United States, plus about 3,500 licensed stores. It has almost 14,000 stores worldwide.

Shares of Starbucks rose 47 cents, or 1.7 percent, to close at $28.17 Monday.