County Posts Commodity List To Deter Post-Hurricane Price Gouging

In an effort to detect price gouging in the event of a hurricane or other disaster, Broward County’s Consumer Affairs Division has compiled a countywide survey of prices for essential products and services. The list is current as of June 1, 2007, the beginning of the hurricane season.

The goods and services covered in the survey include food, bottled water, ice, diapers, non-prescription 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 ordinances, which prohibit retailers from charging excessive or unconscionable prices for essential goods or services, goes into effect only when an emergency is declared by Florida’s governor or Broward County’s mayor. The survey creates a baseline which assists in the investigation of allegations of price gouging. Violations are determined by comparing the selling prices before and after a declared emergency.

To view the 2007 Broward County Commodity Survey, visit www.broward.org/consumer. 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).