FTC and State AGs Sue to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger, Protecting Consumers from Soaring Grocery Bills
February 26, 2024 — In response to news that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a bipartisan group of 9 state attorneys general have sued to block grocery store Kroger’s $26.4 billion acquisition of its competitor, Albertsons, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
A Capital One–Discover Merger is Capital D Dangerous for the U.S. Financial System and American Consumers
February 20, 2024 — In response to news that Capital One is attempting to acquire Discover Financial Services for $35.3 billion, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
American Banker: Big banks charge higher credit card APRs than smaller issuers, CFPB says
February 18, 2024 — Morgan Harper is quoted in coverage of the CFPB's report finding that the largest credit card issuers charge significantly higher APRs than smaller issuers.
Big Banks’ High Credit Card Rates Underscore Need for Competitive Banking Reform
February 16, 2024 — In response to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau showing that the largest banks charge 8-10% higher credit card interest rates than smaller financial institutions, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
FTC and HHS Crack Down on Consolidated GPOs’ Role in Drug Shortages
February 14, 2024 — in response to news that the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have launched a request for information on how pharmaceutical middlemen known as group purchasing organizations (GPOs) and wholesalers contribute to shortages of crucial drugs, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement. As mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Economic Liberties previously sent a letter to the FTC urging them to investigate the role of GPOs in drug shortages and rising healthcare costs in 2022, and recently detailed the market power of these middlemen in a policy brief, “The Dirty Secret of Drug Shortages.”