Democrats Urge Biden to Investigate Allegations of Grocery Store Price-Fixing

Democratic Lawmakers Urge Biden to Investigate Grocery Store Chains for Price Manipulation

A group of Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, is calling on President Joe Biden to investigate major grocery store chains for price manipulation. In a letter sent on Monday morning, the lawmakers highlighted concerns about rising food prices and urged Biden to take executive action to address the issue without waiting for Congress to act.

The letter, shared exclusively with TIME, references a report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that found grocery chains took advantage of supply chain disruptions during the pandemic to increase prices and boost profits. Warren and her colleagues argue that more competition and stronger enforcement of antitrust laws are needed to bring down grocery prices for families.

The lawmakers propose several actions the Biden Administration could take, including encouraging the FTC to issue guidance on potential violations of price discrimination laws and creating a joint task force to investigate food price manipulation throughout the supply chain.

As Biden faces re-election, the issue of rising food prices has become a key concern for voters. Polling data shows that the public is deeply dissatisfied with the cost of food, which has increased by 21% in the last three years. The lawmakers argue that regulatory intervention is necessary to ensure fair competition and affordable prices for consumers.

Warren emphasized that Biden is committed to lowering costs for families and is willing to take on giant corporations to achieve that goal. The White House has not yet commented on whether it will heed the lawmakers’ calls for action, but a spokesperson noted that the President supports fair and vigorous antitrust enforcement.

Overall, the letter underscores the urgent need for regulatory intervention in the food and grocery sector to address price manipulation and ensure fair prices for American families. Warren and her colleagues are hopeful that Biden will use his executive authority to tackle the issue and bring relief to consumers facing high food prices.