Americans have seen natural disasters hit every corner of the country over the last year. In the wake of the catastrophic events, there's always the warning of price gouging on what could be essential items.

Now, more than a dozen attorneys general are calling on the federal officials to ban price gouging with New York’s Letitia James leading the charge.

In a letter addressed to congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, James and 14 of her counterparts from across the country are asking for legislation that would prevent companies from increasing prices on commodities during emergencies.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 40 states including New York already prosecute price gouging

  • New York’s Letitia James and 14 other attorneys general are asking Congress to ban price gouging

  • The attorneys general argue a national ban would help states and the federal government combat price gouging more effectively

The letter notes more than 40 states already ban price gouging, including the Empire State. But the attorneys general argue a ban nationwide would allow the federal government to partner up with a state having trouble snuffing this out.

Price gouging is something that was prevalent at the onset of the war in Ukraine and during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the national supply chain was disrupted. According to James, her office is proactive in holding companies accountable.

In a press release Thursday, James said, “Our federal government should have the same power to protect Americans when disaster strikes and stop price gouging at the national level that threatens both hardworking families and small businesses.”

Consumer advocates are pleased with New York’s efforts on the state level, and even happier to see its leaders calling on the federal government to fall in line. But some say it’s a dual-prong issue.

“When you see price gouging, it’s because companies can do it because there is very little competition because there are monopolies,” ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York Executive Director Theodore Moore said. “When you go to certain areas, there is only one grocery store because a lot of the grocery store chains started to merge and there are buyouts and obviously, there is the affect of huge corporations like Amazon and Wal-Mart who really effect the prices that we see.”

James offers New Yorkers an opportunity to file a price-gouging complaint online.