Gloucester County Officials Warn About Price Gouging After Floods

Gloucester County officials are reminding business and residents of New Jersey’s strong price gouging laws after last week’s flooding resulted in a State of Emergency declaration by Gov. Phil Murphy.

That State of Emergency was lifted on Monday. Read more here: NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Lifts State Of Emergency In South Jersey

New Jersey law prohibits price increases of more than ten percent during a state of emergency and for at least thirty-days after the declaration is terminated, officials said Monday morning.

“I don’t believe any county business would price gouge intentionally, but it’s important that everyone know the law during this time,” Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert Damminger said.

Any merchant who unlawfully increases the price for food, gas, hotel rooms, generators, or other necessary items or services in connection with the State of Emergency faces serious consequences, not only from local officials, but the State Office of Consumer Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General, officials said.

“Any consumer who feels they may have been the target of price gouging during this emergency status should call the County Office of Consumer Affairs immediately so that it can be investigated,” Gloucester County Freeholder Lyman Barnes, Liaison to the County Office of Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures, said.

The phone number for Consumer Affairs is 856-384-6855 and if the complaint concerns gasoline stations the number for Weights and Measures is 856-307-6611. Anyone who gets a recording should leave their name and phone number so someone can return their call.