Lina Khan: Trump’s antitrust enforcers are ‘handing out special favors to corporate lawbreakers’

Antitrust Enforcement & Market Dynamics - The report highlights concerns that PepsiCo allegedly gave Walmart preferential pricing, disadvantaging smaller grocery stores and leading to consumers outside Walmart paying more for Pepsi products [2] - The discussion emphasizes that the lack of enforcement of price discrimination laws has led to consolidation in the grocery industry, particularly in rural areas, resulting in food deserts and increased pricing power for large retailers [7] - The report mentions a proposed merger between Kroger and Albertson's faced significant public opposition due to concerns about layoffs, reduced food options, and higher prices [10] Algorithmic Price Fixing & Consumer Exploitation - Algorithmic price fixing by companies like Real Page is estimated to have caused Americans to overpay by $3 billion in rent [12] - In Phoenix, residents were found to be overpaying their rent by 30% due to algorithmic price fixing [12] - Instacart is accused of using surveillance pricing, leveraging personal data to charge different prices for the same product to different customers [16] - The increasing collection of digital data allows firms to create detailed profiles of individuals, enabling them to exploit consumers by charging prices based on their willingness to pay [18] State-Level Actions & Policy Recommendations - States are taking action by passing new laws to protect citizens from algorithmic price fixing and surveillance pricing [20] - The Democratic Party is urged to prioritize holding corporations accountable for lawbreaking that inflates prices for consumers [14] - The report advocates for assertive efforts by lawmakers and law enforcers to address the challenges posed by algorithmic and surveillance pricing [17]