In preparing for the hurricane season, most consumers will find small generators, chain saws and tarps are less expensive this year. Batteries and roof felt are more expensive. These were some of the findings from the Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs’ recently concluded price survey of commodities most likely to be needed for a hurricane or other emergency.
Since 1996, the Consumer Affairs Division has annually surveyed a variety of Palm Beach County retailers selling goods likely to be used should a hurricane threaten the region. The survey is used in conjunction with a county Price Gouging Ordinance effective when a state of emergency is declared.
This year, 75 commodities were surveyed among 40 small and large retailers operating throughout the county. Under a state of emergency, the ordinance makes it illegal for businesses to charge more than the average retail price for consumer goods or services. Consumer Affairs investigators enforce the ordinance through the issuance of civil citations.
According to Consumer Affairs Director Dennis Moore, Palm Beach County compliance officers become proactive before and immediately following a hurricane in search of price-gouging violators. “We want the days of a guy in a pickup truck selling bags of ice for $20 or sheets of plywood for $200 to be over,” he said.
The Consumer Affairs Division works with its counterparts in Broward and Miami-Dade counties so that the price of hurricane commodities can be tracked for all of South Florida.
Below is a comparison of average costs for select commodities in the Consumer Affairs’ price surveys for 2008 and 2009:
| Commodity |
2008 |
2009 |
percent price change |
| AA alkaline battery (8 pack) |
$6.59 |
$6.73 |
2.1 |
| 14” gas chain saw |
$178.88 |
$160.99 |
-10.0 |
| pull-start generator (1800 – 3999 watts) |
$679.66 |
$568.89 |
-16.3 |
| ½” plywood (4’ x 8’) |
$19.71 |
$19.16 |
-0.3 |
| ¾” plywood (4’ x 8’) |
$29.22 |
$30.18 |
3.2 |
| lantern (fluorescent with battery) |
$24.07 |
$22.60 |
-6.1 |
| lantern (propane) |
$22.40 |
$31.98 |
42.8 |
| plastic tarp (16’ x 20’) |
$28.15 |
$23.18 |
-18.0 |
| ice (standard bag) |
$2.19 |
$2.03 |
-7.3 |
| roof felt (30-pound roll) |
$21.46 |
$28.93 |
34.7 |
The complete commodity report is available at:
www.pbcgov.com/consumer. (Click on “Hurricane Info.”) For more information call 561-712-6600 (Boca/Delray/Glades 1-888-852-7362).
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