{"id":352515,"date":"2017-10-02T16:05:47","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T21:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/price-gouging-laws-by-state.html"},"modified":"2025-01-30T12:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T17:02:00","slug":"price-gouging-laws-by-state","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/consumer-transactions\/price-gouging-laws-by-state.html","title":{"rendered":"Price Gouging Laws by State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Price Gouging Laws by State<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Hannah Hilst<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Price gouging refers to unfairly high pricing during emergencies, impacting essential goods like food and medical supplies. While federal laws don’t address price gouging, many states have specific laws with civil and criminal penalties to protect consumers. These laws vary, often considering factors like price increases and emergency declarations. For instance, states may define excessive pricing as a 10-15% hike above normal rates. Consumers suspecting price gouging should consult a consumer protection attorney.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

When disaster strikes, people face devastation. Emergencies like hurricanes, pandemics, terrorist attacks, and wildfires create dire need. Access to necessities like drinking water and medical supplies becomes urgent. It can even make the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n

Some retailers and other businesses may try to take advantage of these situations. They might see an opportunity to maximize profits by using unfair tactics. Charging much higher prices during an emergency could be illegal price gouging.<\/p>\n

Federal consumer protection laws don’t address price gouging, but your state laws might. Price gouging is an unfair or deceptive trade practice<\/a> in most states.\u00a0But price gouging laws can be very different from place to place.<\/p>\n

These laws exist to protect consumers<\/a>, so they typically set civil penalties for price gouging. The state\u2019s office of the attorney general enforces them. Some state laws also add criminal penalties for price gouging in their penal codes.<\/p>\n

Do High Prices Indicate Price Gouging?<\/h2>\n

No, steep price increases are not always price gouging. State laws set specific criteria to measure whether high prices are illegal.<\/p>\n

To identify price gouging, the government usually checks factors like:<\/p>\n