The weird center alignment is from the source:
Governor Pat McCrory today activated North Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team to coordinate with counties regarding fuel needs as Colonial Pipeline officials continue working to fix a damaged pipeline that supplies much of the east coast with petroleum products.
“I continue to warn motorists to be on the lookout for price gouging,” said Governor McCrory. “We are taking steps to protect consumers and ensure that fuel is continuing to flow into the state. To help ensure adequate fuel supplies, I have instructed state agencies to consider options to limit fuel use, including curtailing non-essential travel for state employees.”
The political definition of price gouging tends to be price rising. If the government doesn't allow prices to rise with a shortage then the shortage persists. Consumers may even make it worse by increasing demand and hoarding in case they need the product later when it is not available.
There have been over 600 complaints:
NC Attorney General spokeswoman Noelle Talley says investigators are checking reports of gas being sold at $5.89 a gallon and another offered at more than $4 a gallon.
Talley says a station north of Winston-Salem advertised a price of $9.99 a gallon, but that was after it had run out of gas.
A CBS North Carolina viewer reported that a Durham gas station received a delivery of gas and that prices at the station immediately jumped from $2.19 a gallon to $2.79 per gallon late Monday afternoon.
The NC AG should leave that $2.79 complaint alone.
