Harris Rolls Out ‘Federal Ban on Price Gouging For Food,’ Accuses Companies of ‘Exploiting Crises’

Vice President Kamala Harris rolled out her economic plan in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, and she said she plans on building an “opportunity economy” as president.

Harris hit on a number of economic topics during her speech and while discussing inflation concerns over the cost of everyday items like groceries, the vice president vowed to target “bad actors” responsible for alleged “price gouging.” She specifically called out the food industry as not competitive enough, accusing companies of making record profits while raising prices.

“I will work to pass the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on food. My plan will include new penalties for opportunistic companies that exploit crises and break the rules, and we will support smaller food businesses that are trying to play by the rules and get ahead,” she said.

Critics, including Donald Trump, have accused Harris of supporting a form of “price controls” as Harris has insisted the federal government needs to take more of an active role in controlling rising prices. Harris acknowledged that “every day” costs are “still too high,” but said it would be Trump’s plan for tariff taxes that would lead to a greater rise in costs — not her plan for more oversight of the market.

“When I am President, it will be a day one priority to bring down prices,” she wrote on X ahead of her Friday speech. “I’ll take on big corporations that engage in illegal price gouging and corporate landlords that unfairly raise rents on working families.”

Harris’s plan includes authorizing the Federal Trade Commission and state attorney generals to give out steep penalties to companies found guilty of price gouging.

Harris claimed on Friday that her plan to federally ban “price gouging” would make the food industry “more competitive.”

“We will help the food industry become more competitive because I believe competition is the lifeblood of our economy. More competition means lower prices for you and your families,” she said.

According to Consumer Price Index data, Americans paid approximately 20% moe for groceries in July compared to when Harris took office in 2021. The growth in costs is slowing, but Americans are paying 25% more at the grocery store compared to February 2020 just before Covid-19 lockdowns greatly affected numerous markets.

Watch above via Fox News.

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