Pennsylvania AG: residents filed over 5,000 price gouging complaints during pandemic

More than 5,000 Pennsylvania residents have reported price hikes in essential products during the covid-19 pandemic, Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Friday.

The Office of the Attorney General has issued 466 cease and desist letters, as well as subpoenas to 200 targets for further investigation, according to a news release. The office found 27 businesses where it is believed actual price gouging occurred.

“We won’t tolerate illegal price gouging during this emergency, and we’re taking action every day to stop it,” Shapiro said in a statement. “Nearly a third of Pennsylvanians are out of work and figuring out how to put food on the table. Gouging the prices of basic necessities to help keep us safe from the pandemic — face masks, hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol — is outrageous and illegal.”

Gov. Tom Wolf’s declaration of disaster emergency provides rules against price gouging. Companies and vendors are prohibited from charging a price for goods and services that exceeds 20% of the average price at which they were sold in the seven days preceding March 6.

Shapiro said if a consumer notices suspicious price increases on goods or services, they should report the instance by emailing pricegouging@attorneygenteral.gov.