The economics of price gouging and where it comes from : The Indicator from Planet Money Consumers and politicians around the country are making a lot of noise about price gouging. But when do prices cross the line from simply high to something more painful? We talk to an economist to find out.

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Is price gouging a problem?

Is price gouging a problem?

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STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
(Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

The inflationary environment brought on during the pandemic is sparking conversations about price gouging. It's a real fear that consumers have about the cost of staple goods, but many economists refuse to use the term. So what gives?

Today on the show, we learn why price gouging can feel so obvious for consumers but so difficult for economists to identify.

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For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.