The Sentinel

Democrats push for federal ban on price gouging amid Trump's tariff rollout

Democrats say such protections are needed as President Donald Trump rolls out higher tariffs on foreign nations as part of an effort to overhaul global trade.

A young woman shops at grocery store — Democrats are pushing a bill at the federal level, clarifying that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. The bill would give the FTC and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against merchants who overprice goods to American consumers. Critics say it could make issues worse.

By Brett Rowland .::. Investigative Reporter
The Center Square

CHICAGO - Democrats are pushing a bill prohibiting price gouging at the federal level and giving the Federal Trade Commission another $1 billion and new tools to go after companies charging "grossly excessive" prices.

Democrats say such protections are needed as President Donald Trump rolls out higher tariffs on foreign nations as part of an effort to overhaul global trade. A tariff is a tax on imported goods that the importer pays to the federal government. That importer can then absorb the loss, or try to pass the added costs on to consumers through higher prices.

Critics say the measure could actually make shortages of key products worse.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats proposed similar measures to prevent price gouging.

A group of Democrats reintroduced the Price Gouging Prevention Act "to fight back against the corporate greed enabled by the Trump administration's chaotic tariff policies," they said. The bill would give the FTC and state attorneys general new tools to enforce a federal ban against "grossly excessive price increases."

"Donald Trump's reckless tariff policies are giving companies cover to squeeze families and raise prices more than necessary," said U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "My bill is an opportunity for Congress to stand up for families by cracking down on price gouging and fighting back against corporate abuse."

Ryan Bourne, of the Cato Institute, said the measure was just as bad as it was the first time it was introduced.

"This 'anti-price gouging' bill is a reheated version of Elizabeth Warren's earlier misguided proposal. Back then, Democrats found it politically convenient to blame greedy corporations for an inflation overwhelmingly caused by excessive government spending and loose monetary policy," he told The Center Square. "Now, the same politicians are using the price-inflating effects of Donald Trump's tariffs to revive their anti-corporate legislation."

This legislation would compound those problems by turning pricing decisions into legal liabilities.

Bourne said the measure could exacerbate shortages at critical times, such as after a natural disaster.

"The results of such a federal law would be disastrous. Capping prices below what people are willing to pay for goods would produce shortages and empty shelves during volatile periods," he said. "Firms today face ever-shifting trade barriers, unpredictable demand conditions, and evolving supply chains – all factors that increase price volatility. This legislation would compound those problems by turning pricing decisions into legal liabilities. Firms fearing prosecution would hesitate to raise prices even when those higher prices accurately reflect genuine scarcity or increased risks. The price controls would thus risk making goods' shortages far more severe and prolonged."

Democrats first introduced the measure in 2024, but it failed to advance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats proposed similar measures to prevent price gouging.

The bill would clarify that price gouging is an unfair and deceptive practice under the FTC Act. The measure would allow the FTC and state attorneys general to stop sellers from charging a grossly excessive price, regardless of where the price gouging occurs in a supply chain or distribution network, according to a news release.

"Greedy corporations are using the economic turmoil the Trump Administration has created to gouge the American people on everything from groceries to consumer goods," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill. "While these large corporations rake in record profits, families in my community and across the country are struggling to put food on the table."

The bill would give the FTC an additional $1 billion in funding to do the work. It would establish when price gouging occurs during a significant shift in trade policy. It lists a set of market shocks – including an "abrupt or significant shift in trade policy" – and outlines a standard for a presumptive violation of the price gouging prohibition during such a shock, such as when companies brag about increasing prices, according to Democrats.

Trump administration has worked to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

The measure would also create an affirmative defense for small businesses acting in good faith. Sponsors noted that "small and local businesses sometimes must raise prices in response to crisis-driven increases in their costs because they have little negotiating power with their price-gouging suppliers." That affirmative defense protects small businesses earning less than $100 million from frivolous litigation if they show "legitimate cost increases."

The bill would further require public companies to disclose costs and pricing strategies.

"During periods of exceptional market shock, the bill requires public companies to transparently disclose and explain changes in their cost of goods sold, gross margins, and pricing strategies in their quarterly SEC filings," according to the sponsors.

Warren and Schakowsky face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Republicans have been moving in the opposite direction. The Trump administration has worked to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal agency created after the 2007-08 financial crisis to establish a single agency responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris promised to introduce a federal anti-price-gouging law during the 2024 presidential campaign.

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Worried? Meet your fears head on, here's how to navigate them

When it comes to worry, there’s no shortage of things that keep us up at night – some of it probably has us tossing and turning at times.

A woman worries about her life's direction at sunset — Reframing how you handle disappointments can help you worry less. The goal is to focus on what you have the power to control.

by Paul Arco
OSF Healthcare

The clock ticks past midnight. Your eyes are open, your body still – but your mind is anything but quiet. From bills to health scares to family stress, worry shows up, unpacks, and overstays its welcome.

When it comes to worry, there’s no shortage of things that keep us up at night – some of it probably has us tossing and turning at times.

According to experts like Ashley Pratt, a psychotherapist with OSF HealthCare, most of what we fret about never comes to fruition. But that doesn’t stop us from experiencing a few anxious moments.

But why do we worry?

“It’s actually part of our human nature,” says Pratt. “Our brain is designed to help us protect ourselves from danger or unpleasant experiences. So, worry is kind of our brain’s way of helping us navigate or prepare for those things.”

But some worrying can serve a purpose, Pratt says. For example, if you’re worried about skin cancer, you might be more diligent when it comes to protecting your skin. If you’re worried about money, you might become thriftier when it comes to spending.

Pratt says the best way to get a hold of worry is to concentrate on what you can control.

“Focus on what we have power over,” Pratt says. “That's one of my favorite ways to manage worry. That way we can start to incorporate other coping skills through our life, whether it's breathing exercises or talking to friends, listening to podcasts, doing enjoyable hobbies throughout our week.”

Still, life happens and that means some things we worry about do come true. Pratt recommends meeting those fears head on.

Trying to worry less takes time and lots of work.

“I think we can learn that we can get through it, first and foremost,” she emphasizes. “Even if our worries do come true occasionally, we can cope with it. Worry gives us opportunities to learn about how we handle those situations.”

Instead of worrying, Pratt says to trust yourself IF something negative does happen. It’s better to remain calm than distressed when trying to solve a potential problem.

But if you are having a tough time navigating those worries, there are ways you can calm your nerves. For example, stay off your phone, where you can find news that may be upsetting. Check in with people in your inner circle that you trust and can talk to. Finally, Pratt suggests starting the practice of gratitude.

“It helps rewire those negative thoughts and give us more focus on the things that are going well in our lives,” Pratt says.

Trying to worry less takes time and lots of work. If you can’t seem to find any relief on your own, Pratt recommends seeking professional help.

“If it feels unmanageable, reaching out to someone, whether your doctor for medication management, going to therapy, learning different techniques and just finding something that works.”

Ways to worry less Robert Leahy is a psychologist and author of the book “The Worry Cure.” He offers the following tips to cope with worry.

1. Identify productive and unproductive worry

Determine whether worry will help you find solutions to a problem. If yes, write a to-do list with steps to help solve the problem.

2. Track your worries

Write down your unproductive worries throughout the day and dedicate time to thinking about them.

3. Accept uncertainty

Leahy says repeating a worry for 20 minutes (“I may never fall asleep” or “I could lose my job”) lessens its power.

4. Be mindful

Leahy says there are ways to be mindful throughout the day. Work on living in the now by practicing deep breathing. Let your body relax to release the tension.

5. Reframe your worry

Leahy says reframing how you handle disappointments can help worry. Ask yourself what you have learned from your bad experiences. Make a list of things that make you grateful.

6. Put worries in perspective

Learn from previous worries. If you can’t remember what they were, it might mean they never came true, or you were able to deal with them and move on.