Altria Group has started to cut jobs to alleviate the risk from the widespread economic turmoil.

A spokesman declined to say how many cuts would be made.

Richmond, Virginia-based Altria owns Marlboro-maker Philip Morris USA. It is also buying UST.

A spokesman confirmed the cuts on Tuesday and said the company is deciding how many cuts it will make between now and February.

Altria said in August 2007 that it would cut 400 positions when it moved its headquarters out of New York as it spun off Philip Morris International. The latest cuts are in addition to those.