Deluzio and Colleagues Propose New Tools to Fight Price Gouging Amidst Trump’s Reckless Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chris Deluzio (PA-17) along with Jan Schakowsky (IL-11) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Actto fight back against the corporate power enabled by the Trump administration's chaotic tariff policies. The bill would give the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against grossly excessive price increases.

Over the past five years, giant corporations have repeatedly taken advantage of inflationand supply chain disruptionsto expand their profit margins by raising prices higher than necessary to cover cost increases. President Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs have created yet another opportunity forcorporate price gouging. The tariff-driven uncertainty gives companiesthe opportunity to raise prices on allgoods-regardless of whether they are actually subject to new tariffs-higher and for longer than what is necessary to cover any cost increases. Now, dozens of companies have reportedraising the prices of goods and services unaffected by Trump's tariffs.

"Prices are still too high, and inflation is still pounding folks. Especially now, we need to rein in monopolists and other huge corporations with the power to price gouge the American people," said Congressman Deluzio. "By upping FTC enforcement practices and boosting transparency, this bill will take some of the squeeze off American families and small businesses suffering under the thumb of out-of-control corporate power."

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) joined as co-sponsors.

The Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2025would help the federal government and state attorneys general fight corporate price gouging. The bill would:

• Prohibit price gouging at the federal level-anytime and anywhere. The bill would clarify that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. It would allow the FTC and state attorneys general to stop sellers from charging a grossly excessive price, regardless of where the price gouging occurs in a supply chain or distribution network;
• Help enforcers establish when price gouging is occurring during a significant shift in trade policy. The bill lists a set of exceptional market shocks-including an "abrupt or significant shift in trade policy"-and outlines a standard for a presumptive violation of the price gouging prohibition during such a shock, such as when companies brag about increasing prices;
• Create an affirmative defense for small businesses acting in good faith. Small and local businesses sometimes must raise prices in response to crisis-driven increases in their costs because they have little negotiating power with their price-gouging suppliers. This affirmative defense protects small businesses earning less than $100 million from frivolous litigation if they show legitimate cost increases;
• Require public companies to clearly disclose costs and pricing strategies. During periods of exceptional market shock, the bill requires public companies to transparently disclose and explain changes in their cost of goods sold, gross margins, and pricing strategies in their quarterly SEC filings; and
• Provide $1 billion in additional funding to the FTC to carry out its work.

During Trump's presidency, giant corporations have continued to take advantage of inflation and supply chain disruptions by raising prices far higher than necessary, ultimately ripping off American people. The Price Gouging Prevention Actis a huge step towards ending this practice by holding corporate price gougers accountable.

Last week, Congressman Deluzio joined with Senator Warren and 15 other Democrats urged the FTCto investigate tariff-enabled corporate price gouging that is raising costs for American families and use its full authority to prevent it.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Deluzio focuses on fighting price gouging in the defense sector, especially defense contracting. In the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed out of committee on July 17th, he was able to secure several important wins on this topic and for his community in Western Pennsylvania. He also previously introduced Stop Price Gouging the Military Actto close loopholes in current acquisition laws.

###