State legislatures are still continuing to enact new changes to their states’ price gouging statutes.  Some are expanding the scope of their laws, while others are tailoring the law or emergency orders in response to new issues that have arisen during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Idaho took a third tack and limited limit overbroad enforcement so that its law applied only to price increase, and not to price decreases that are deemed to be insufficient.

In November 2020, the Idaho Attorney General entered into a headline-grabbing settlement agreement with three gasoline retailers following an investigation into alleged price gouging.  Attorney General Wasden alleged that the retailers sold gasoline at an “exorbitant or excessive price” in violation of Idaho’s price gouging statute.

The Attorney General’s investigation was unique because the restitution structure it created was based on the retailers’ margins.  While some jurisdictions, such as the District of Columbia, use margins as a factor in analysis, the Idaho statute is silent on this point.  It only referred to selling at “exorbitant or excessive prices.”

According to documents from the investigation, obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Attorney General Wasden focused primarily on the profit margin of the gas retailers.  In early 2020 as the country began responding to the pandemic, wholesale gas prices fell by approximately $1.00 between February and April.  The average retail gas prices in Idaho, however, remained relatively stable, falling only $0.50 from February to April 2020.  This served as the predicate for the Attorney General’s investigation focusing on the gas retailers’ increased profit margin, even while price was falling.  The retailers responded by pointing out that they lost 50% of their fuel sales during that period.  Without admitting wrongdoing, the retailers agreed to a consumer restitution structure under which the retailers earn credits for selling gas at lower profit margins.

The Idaho Legislature took issue with the settlement, and on March 17, 2021, Governor Brad Little signed SB 1041 into law, amending the state’s price gouging statute.  The legislation clarifies that only price increases are covered by the price gouging prohibition – not price decreases that are deemed insufficient.  Second, the amendments stipulate that for the analysis of whether the price increase is “exorbitant or excessive,” courts “shall not consider any increase in the margin earned.”  However, courts will continue to use other factors in the analysis: i) prices from before the emergency, ii) increased costs, iii) the duration of the emergency, and iv) a newly added provision for loss of sales or volume as a result of the emergency.  These amendments appear to respond directly to the concerns raised by the gas retailers – using profit margins as the benchmark and ignoring significant decreased sales.  The new law would prohibit investigations predicated solely on increased profit margins, like the 2020 retail gas sales investigation.

Idaho is not alone in updating its price gouging restrictions.  States, such as California, have amended their price gouging rules as they grapple with applying statutes and emergency orders to changing conditions.  We expect state enforcers to continue pursuing price gouging enforcement actions.  Businesses should therefore continue to evaluate the factors states use in evaluating price increases, and should adopt best practices for documenting the bases for any price increases.

*      *      *

Visit Proskauer on Price Gouging for antitrust insights on COVID-19.

*      *      *

Proskauer’s cross-disciplinary, cross-jurisdictional Coronavirus Response Team is focused on supporting and addressing client concerns. Visit our Coronavirus Resource Center for guidance on risk management measures, practical steps businesses can take and resources to help manage ongoing operations.

Photo of Christopher E. Ondeck Christopher E. Ondeck

Chris Ondeck is co-chair of the Firm’s Antitrust Group and co-head of the Washington DC office. He represents clients in complex antitrust and consumer protection litigation, defends mergers and acquisitions before the U.S. antitrust agencies, represents companies involved in government investigations, and counsels…

Chris Ondeck is co-chair of the Firm’s Antitrust Group and co-head of the Washington DC office. He represents clients in complex antitrust and consumer protection litigation, defends mergers and acquisitions before the U.S. antitrust agencies, represents companies involved in government investigations, and counsels on antitrust compliance. Chris is also the founder and leader of the firm’s Price Gouging Practice, and is one of the key thought leaders in this space.

Chris handles antitrust matters for clients in a number of industries, including food and agriculture, financial services, media, telecom, technology, e-commerce, consumer products, natural resources, oil and gas, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.  He also serves as outside counsel to a large number of industry groups, including trade associations and cooperatives.

Chris has been recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner by Chambers, noting that clients describe him as “our primary thought partner – he’s very good at explaining the complex issues and making them easy to understand” and praising “his strong advocacy skills”; by The National Law Review as a “Go To Thought Leader 2020”; by Acritas as a “Star” in multiple years; by Benchmark Litigation as a National Litigation Star 2021; and by The Legal 500 United States for Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions.

Photo of John R. Ingrassia John R. Ingrassia

John is a partner at the Firm, advising on the full range of foreign investment and antitrust matters across industries, including chemicals, pharmaceutical, medical devices, telecommunications, financial services consumer goods and health care. He is the first call clients make in matters relating…

John is a partner at the Firm, advising on the full range of foreign investment and antitrust matters across industries, including chemicals, pharmaceutical, medical devices, telecommunications, financial services consumer goods and health care. He is the first call clients make in matters relating to competition and antitrust, CFIUS or foreign investment issues.

For more than 25 years, John has counselled businesses facing the most challenging antitrust issues and helped them stay out of the crosshairs — whether its distribution, pricing, channel management, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, or price gouging compliance.

John’s practice focuses on the analysis and resolution of CFIUS and antitrust issues related to mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, and the analysis and assessment of pre-merger CFIUS and HSR notification requirements. He advises clients on issues related to CFIUS national security reviews, and on CFIUS submissions when non-U.S. buyers seek to acquire U.S. businesses that have national security sensitivities.  He also regularly advises clients on international antitrust issues arising in proposed acquisitions and joint ventures, including reportability under the EC Merger Regulation and numerous other foreign merger control regimes.

His knowledge, reputation and extensive experience with the legal, practical, and technical requirements of merger clearance make him a recognized authority on Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust merger review. John is regularly invited to participate in Federal Trade Commission and bar association meetings and takes on the issues of the day.

Photo of Shannon D. McGowan Shannon D. McGowan

Shannon McGowan is an associate in the Litigation department.  Shannon’s practice focuses on assisting clients navigate a range of antitrust issues.  In addition to her experience on wide-ranging antitrust litigations, Shannon works with clients on general antitrust compliance and litigation issues.  In connection…

Shannon McGowan is an associate in the Litigation department.  Shannon’s practice focuses on assisting clients navigate a range of antitrust issues.  In addition to her experience on wide-ranging antitrust litigations, Shannon works with clients on general antitrust compliance and litigation issues.  In connection with historic restructuring of Puerto Rico’s debts, Shannon advises the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico on a variety of issues related to Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act.

Shannon maintains an active pro bono practice, including assisting non-profit organizations with research into immigration and refugee law and representing individual clients in litigation to improve housing conditions in the Washington D.C. area.

Shannon earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she captained the school’s Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team.  As an alumnae, she is active in advising the current UVA Jessup Team throughout the year-long competition.

Prior to law school, Shannon served as a legislative assistant to state representatives at the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, where she researched and advised on legislation and policy issues, including government transparency, education, and financial accountability.