Top Democrats take another swipe at grocery prices as Election Day nears

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

Nov. 4, 2024, 5:00 AM EST


Two Democratic lawmakers are urging an investigation of grocery stores that they say might be overcharging customers.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., sent a letter, seen by NBC News, to the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Agriculture on Sunday, calling on the agencies to investigate whether “major grocery chains may be making false and misleading representations regarding food sold by weight, leading to customers paying more for groceries than expected.”

Both lawmakers come from overwhelmingly Democratic states and are on the ballot this year. Warren is favored to win re-election, and Schiff, currently a high-ranking House member, is ahead in his bid to become California’s junior senator.

Their move in the election’s home stretch isn’t likely to spark any near-term government action, especially not if Republicans regain the White House. It follows numerous efforts by the Biden-Harris administration to pressure grocery sellers to lower prices, and plans by Vice President Kamala Harris to curb excessive food price hikes if elected. She and former President Donald Trump have each sought to persuade voters that they’re focused on tackling living costs in an election where affordability is top of mind.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/top-democrats-take-another-swipe-grocery-prices-election-day-nears-rcna178297

---

Link to Senator Warren PRESS RELEASE - Warren, Schiff, Lawmakers Call for Probe of Albertsons and Other Giant Grocery Chains for False Advertising

Link to LETTER (PDF) - https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_ftc_and_usda_re_ca_albertsons_grocery_prices_settlement.pdf

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "Can't wait for the Harris DOJ to charge these grocery companies with price gouging"

Congress has to pass a law FIRST in order for any of that to happen. And that means we have to retain the Senate and take the House back, since the media keeps claiming we would do neither.

[Igel]

6. Then there's the whole constitutional issue of making it retroactive.

That's not a trivial problem, if you support the constitution.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Well if stuff could be made "retroactive"

then I could see 4 loaves of bread for $1 again!!!

Penny candy really would be a penny and the "5 and 10" stores wouldn't have to be 5 (dollars) Below stores!

[Skittles]

3. that would be better than playing dictator, wouldn't it?

[MichMan]

4. Grocery store profit margins are approximately 2%

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/profit-margin-supermarket-22467.html

All the current price gouging laws in states address retailers charging excessively during emergencies like weather related or power outages. They are not designed to determine what the market price of a box of Cheerios should be.

[Bengus81]

5. Way past time to do something about the Mega chain Grocery Store Industrial Complex

Way,way past time..............

[Jit423]

8. Everyone concerned should research who owns these grocery chains, their nationality and their citizenship,

their connections to our politicians. It is also interesting to learn the history of the various brands and their former ownership. It is also interesting to learn what secondary brands are owned by the same conglomerates that own the secondary or store brands. What you will find is that there is NO competition whatsoever in the food industry. The food industry is 99 percent owned, operated, and controlled by four (4) major industry conglomerates. Too much to go into here and I am more comfortable encouraging others to find out information for themselves lest I give out one error and be accused of giving out fake info. It is very interesting how much we give permission in advance to wealthy oligarchs who would become dictators if they weren't so lazy.