Consumer Encyclopedia
Price gouging
Related Resources
Related News Releases
AG investigating reports of price gouging in wake of ice storms in southwestern and central Missouri
AG investigation into post-Katrina gas pricing leads to legal action against 10 gas stations
AG announces results of investigation into gas price gouging; 48 gas stations to pay $60,043 total
Price gouging
This refers to artificially inflated prices on necessities after a disaster, natural or otherwise. Missouri has seen price gouging after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and other severe storms in the state.
It's against Missouri law to take advantage of a desperate situation by drastically increasing prices on merchandise, whether it's gasoline, kerosene after winter storm, hotel rooms, ice, gas-powered generators and other necessities.
