Price Gouging Laws in Effect

West Virginia’s anti-gouging laws are in effect. The reminder Monday was from Attorney General Patrick Morrisey following Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s emergency declaration in three counties and preparedness announcement for 35 other counties. The declarations follow heavy rain over the past two days. Tomblin’s declaration automatically kicks in the state’s price gouging laws. They are aimed at controlling how much a retailer can raise prices of items or services. In general, the laws prohibit any person or business from inflating the price of any consumer item by more than 10 percent. Consumers who believe they have been the victim of price gouging can file a complaint with Morrisey’s Consumer Protection Division.