New York Attorney General Letitia James issued an alert today, warning businesses against price gouging of essential items in Suffolk County. This follows a federal emergency declaration due to severe weather that caused heavy flooding and significant damage on Long Island. The state's price gouging statute aims to prevent businesses from exploiting consumers by selling essential goods or services at excessively high prices during market disruptions or emergencies.
"As families in Suffolk County recover from the devastating aftermath of last week’s storm, I am warning businesses not to use this as an opportunity to unfairly raise prices," said Attorney General James. "New York’s price gouging laws are clear that emergencies are not a time for businesses to rake in profit by raising prices of essential items. I encourage anyone who sees higher than normal prices on essential items to contact my office immediately."
New York law prohibits businesses from taking unfair advantage of consumers by selling goods or services vital to health, safety, or welfare at unconscionably excessive prices during emergencies. The statute covers vendors, retailers, and suppliers across New York State and includes essential goods and services necessary for consumer health, safety, and welfare. These include food, water, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation options.
When reporting price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), consumers should:
- Report the specific increased prices, dates, and locations where they observed these prices.
- Provide copies of sales receipts and photos of advertised prices if available.
Violations of the price gouging statute can result in penalties up to $25,000 per violation. New Yorkers are encouraged to report potential concerns about price gouging by filing a complaint online or calling 800-771-7755.