In 2020, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announced a permanent price gouging rule under the City’s Consumer Protection Law. The rule makes price gouging illegal for any product essential to health, safety, or welfare during a declared state of emergency in the City of New York.
Examples include:
- Staple food items (milk, bread, eggs)
- Emergency supplies (water, flashlights, batteries)
- Diagnostic products and services (test kits, thermometers)
- Disinfectants (wipes, liquids, sprays)
- Face masks
- Gloves
- Hand sanitizer
- Medicines
- Paper towels
- Rubbing alcohol
- Soap
- Gasoline
It is illegal to increase the prices of these types of goods and services by 10% or more.
If you think a store, including an online business or a street vendor, excessively increased the price of these items beginning in June 2020, you can file an overcharge complaint with the City.
