Grocery Store Law To Change for Millions of Americans
Newsweek • • business
Key Points:
- Maryland is set to become the first U.S. state to ban "surveillance pricing" through the Protection From Predatory Pricing Act, which prohibits retailers from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product to individual customers.
- The law aims to protect consumers from unfair price increases on everyday essentials by preventing dynamic pricing based on purchase history, location, or online behavior, while still allowing traditional sales and loyalty discounts.
- Governor Wes Moore supports the bill, emphasizing the need to shield working families from rising costs exacerbated by new pricing technologies.
- Consumer advocacy groups like Consumer Reports back the legislation but criticize exemptions, particularly for loyalty programs, that could undermine its effectiveness by allowing price variations within those systems.
- Maryland's move may inspire other states such as California, New York, Illinois, Colorado, and New Jersey to consider similar bans or restrictions on surveillance pricing.
