Anonymous,

As more and more governors declare states of emergency over COVID-19, some businesses continue to unfairly inflate prices for critical supplies -- despite corporate and government efforts to stop them.1,2,3,4

With marketplaces unable or unwilling to prevent fake surgical gloves and absurdly priced hand sanitizer from invading stores, we need the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take action.5

A public health emergency shouldn't be an opportunity to price gouge. Tell the FTC: Stop price gouging during emergencies.

Since the novel coronavirus made landfall in the U.S., demand for supplies including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes has risen. Some sellers know that consumers are in a tough position -- and they're taking advantage of that by raising prices significantly.6

One container of Clorox wipes cost over $58, including shipping.7 A four-pack of Purell was selling for $159 dollars on Amazon.

And while the FTC -- the agency responsible for protecting consumers in the marketplace -- has warned consumers about scams related to coronavirus, it has yet to implement a robust plan to stop price gouging during the outbreak.8,9

We have enough to worry about without having to navigate a marketplace fraught with predatory price-spikes.

We need the FTC to take action. Tell the FTC to protect consumers from predatory sellers.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has already filed a letter with the FTC calling on the agency to implement a plan to protect consumers from price gouging as COVID-19 prompts Americans to seek out medical supplies.10

U.S. PIRG is urging the FTC to follow through with a robust plan to crack down on bad actors in the marketplace -- and we need your help:

Add your name: Tell the FTC to crack down on bad actors in the marketplace.

Sincerely,

Faye Park
President

1. Matthew Impelli, "What U.S. States Have Declared a State of Emergency Amid Coronavirus Outbreak," Newsweek, March 9, 2020.
2. Charisse Jones, "Coronavirus leads Sen. Ed Markey to ask the FTC to stop the gouging and scams," USA Today, March 10, 2020.
3. Alex Gangitano, "DOJ warns companies against price fixing during coronavirus," The Hill, March 9, 2020.
4. Jordan Valinksy, "Amazon deleted 1 million items for price gouging or false advertising about coronavirus," CNN, March 2, 2020.
5. Alexandra Berzon and Daniela Hernandez, "Amazon Battles Counterfeit Masks, $400 Hand Sanitizer Amid Virus Panic," Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2020.
6. Jessica Guynn and Kelly Tyko, "Gouge much? Purell for $149, face masks for $20: Coronavirus price hikes are making everyone mad," USA Today, updated March 4, 2020.
7. Jessica Guynn and Kelly Tyko, "Gouge much? Purell for $149, face masks for $20: Coronavirus price hikes are making everyone mad," USA Today, updated March 4, 2020.
8. Colleen Tressler, "Coronavirus: Scammers follow the headlines," Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information, February 10, 2020.
9. Charisse Jones, "Coronavirus leads Sen. Ed Markey to ask the FTC to stop the gouging and scams," USA Today, March 10, 2020.
10. Charisse Jones, "Coronavirus leads Sen. Ed Markey to ask the FTC to stop the gouging and scams," USA Today, March 10, 2020.