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White House moves to stop alleged price gouging

Jul 19, 2023
Food inflation is a major complaint, but some farmers and companies say market forces will keep prices in check.
As grocery prices rose, many critics, including the White House, accused food companies of taking consumers for a ride.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Can oil companies use their extra money to ease pain at the pump? It's complicated.

Apr 12, 2022
It'll take more than political policy to lower prices.
 Prices for gas at an Exxon gas station on Capitol Hill are seen in Washington, DC. The cost of gasoline continues to rise across the globe and in the United States due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and continued inflation associated with the global pandemic.
Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Companies' costs are up, but for many, so are profits

Feb 3, 2022
That’s because for certain things …customers are just willing to pay more.
welcomia / Getty Images

What constitutes price gouging?

Aug 13, 2020
States prohibit exorbitant price increases for essential goods during an emergency.
Rising prices by a lot on essential items — like eggs or medicine — during a crisis is illegal.
Philippe Huguen/AFP via Getty Images

The economics behind why toilet paper is sold out

Mar 19, 2020
Coronavirus household shortages, explained.
Raising prices might curb panic-buying, but it’s also price gouging.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images

Amazon cracks down on COVID-19 price gouging

Mar 3, 2020
The company says it has recently blocked or removed tens of thousands of listings for such products, like face masks and hand sanitizer.
Some third-party sellers have been charging hundreds of dollars for a couple small bottles of hand sanitizer or a box of protective face masks.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

An Uber expensive ride

Dec 19, 2013
Uber upset riders with a spike in service costs during a high-demand weekend.

For public good, not for profit.

Brazil's fine line between price gouging and turning a profit

Oct 21, 2013
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff convenes a committee to monitor prices and service ahead of next year’s World Cup to head off price gouging. But for retailers, there’s a fine line between appropriately responding to increased demand and taking advantage.

Desperate for gas, some resort to stealing

Nov 16, 2012
New York and New Jersey will end gas rationing programs that were put place in some areas post-Sandy. As demand continues to outstrip supply, some people are going to extreme measures to find or steal gas.

You're price-gouging? Thank you very much

Nov 9, 2012
Price-gouging during natural disaster is illegal, and New Jersey is prosecuting some gas stations after Hurricane Sandy. But gouging also is a means for distributing more broadly, because it discourages hoarding.