PRICE GOUGING DURING AN EMERGENCY

In an effort to detect price gouging if a State of Emergency is declared during hurricane season or for any natural or man-made disaster, the Broward County Consumer Affairs Division completed a countywide survey, during the first week in June, of prices of essential products and services sold. The goods and services covered in the survey include food, bottled water, ice, diapers, nonprescription medicine and first-aid supplies, gasoline, and building and household supplies such as flashlights, batteries, drills, generators, chainsaws, plywood, drywall, roofing shingles and propane. Also priced in the survey are rentals of hotel/motel and
other dwelling units, building equipment and self-storage facilities.

In Broward County, anti-price-gouging laws, which prohibit retailers from charging excessive or unconscionable prices for essential goods or services, go into effect only when a State of Emergency is declared by the Governor of Florida and/or the Broward County Mayor or Broward County Board of County Commissioners. The survey creates a baseline which assists in the investigation of allegations of price gouging, and provides consumers with guidance in determining whether they were victims. Violations are determined by comparing the selling price during the State of Emergency with the price the same goods or services previously sold for.

During a declared State of Emergency, special telephone hotlines will be available to report allegations of price gouging. Consumers can call the Florida Attorney General's Office at 1-866-966-7226, or the Florida Division of Consumer Services at 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352).

Click here to see a sample of items surveyed.

2007 Broward County Commodity Survey Results -- pdf

2007 Tri County Commodity Survey Results -- pdf