Price-Gouging Investigations in Western Carolinas

The Attorneys-General of North and South Carolina are investigating thousands of charges of price-gouging on the part of gasoline stations in the area.

North Carolina Attorney-General Roy Cooper has already sent subpoenas to dozens of gas stations in western North Carolina alone concerning customer complaints of outrageously unnecessary price increases at the pump.

Henry McMaster, South Carolina's Attorney-General stated on Monday that there appears to be some price-gouging by certain gasoline vendors but that his investigations would need to be completed before any formal charges would ensue.

McMaster stated that he has requested records from the accused vendors which should show that the price they paid for gasoline is reflected in the price at the pump. The mere fact that gasoline is higher, he said, is no indication that the station engaged in price gouging.

Price-gouging is a term that refers to a business that charges customers significantly higher prices than the prices the business paid for the commodity, taking advantage of consumers particularly during emergencies such as the recent hurricane.

In both North and South Carolina, a business that is convicted of price gouging faces a fine of $2000 per customer that was impacted by the gouging. Such fines can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single business, effectively bankrupting that business.