Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and California have taken recent steps to further protect the infant formula market from price gouging. On June 7, 2022, the D.C. Council passed the “Infant Formula Consumer Protection Emergency...more
7/13/2022
/ Baby Products ,
California ,
Consumer Product Companies ,
Consumers ,
Executive Orders ,
Food & Drug Regulations ,
Food Supply ,
Local Ordinance ,
New Legislation ,
Price Gouging ,
Retail Market ,
Supply Chain
On May 24, 2022, the FTC announced a widespread inquiry into the ongoing infant formula shortage. The agency had been tasked by the White House with investigating any price gouging or unfair market practices in the industry....more
6/9/2022
/ Baby Products ,
Business Disruption ,
Comment Period ,
Consumer Product Companies ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Food Products . ,
Food Supply ,
Manufacturers ,
Price Gouging ,
Retail Market ,
Suppliers ,
Supply Chain ,
Supply Shortages ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Two federal price gouging bills were recently introduced in Congress. Senator Elizabeth Warren led the introduction of the Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2022. The bill prohibits “unconscionably excessive price[s]” at any...more
5/20/2022
/ Baby Products ,
Biden Administration ,
Corruption ,
Defense Production Act ,
Goods or Services ,
Price Gouging ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Retail Market ,
Supply Chain ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
With the Biden administration ramping up scrutiny on supply chains and pricing practices, businesses should take a moment to revisit their COVID-19 price gouging compliance. As we’ve previously highlighted, risk management...more
3/21/2022
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Doing Business ,
Goods or Services ,
Price Gouging ,
Price Inflation ,
Price-Fixing ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Retail Market ,
Supply Chain ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In an interview on All In with Chris Hayes in January, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., claimed that a factor causing the high prices facing U.S. consumers is “giant corporations who say, wow, a lot of talk about high prices...more
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a disaster emergency for the state through January 15, 2022 in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the state and the newly identified Omicron variant. According to The Wall Street...more
12/2/2021
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corruption ,
Goods or Services ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New York ,
Price Gouging ,
Price Inflation ,
Retail Market ,
State of Emergency ,
Supply and Demand ,
Supply Chain ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
As price gouging restrictions remain in place in many states and municipalities, new and ongoing enforcement actions continue to advance or settle. Over the past several weeks, we have seen a number of noteworthy developments...more
11/2/2021
/ Amazon Marketplace ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Food Supply ,
Goods or Services ,
Price Gouging ,
Price-Fixing ,
Putative Class Actions ,
Retail Market ,
Supply Chain ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Although many states of emergency have expired, new lawsuits that allege price gouging continue to be filed. On September 3, 2021, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a complaint in Minnesota state court against...more
9/14/2021
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corruption ,
Food Supply ,
Goods or Services ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Price Gouging ,
Price Inflation ,
Retail Market ,
Supply Chain ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
While price gouging is often discussed in the context of existing products, new products and services may be covered as well. As a result, businesses looking to introduce new products during a price gouging emergency can seek...more
7/21/2020
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Essential Goods ,
Goods or Services ,
Postproduction Costs ,
Price Comparisons ,
Price Gouging ,
Product Pricing ,
Rebuttable Presumptions ,
Retail Market ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
In the past month, Florida’s Attorney General has received thousands of complaints about price gouging across the state. As a result, Florida is taking action...more
4/14/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Enforcement Programs ,
Essential Goods ,
Goods or Services ,
Price Gouging ,
Product Pricing ,
Retail Market ,
Retailers ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Even though states are leading the way on price gouging enforcement, recent action in Congress may lead to overlapping federal government enforcement. Recent Congressional letters, statements, and proposed bills show a...more
4/14/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Crisis Management ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Goods or Services ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Medical Equipment ,
Medical Supplies ,
Price Gouging ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Retail Market ,
Retailers ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices