US EditionTouting Affordability, Md. Leaders Call for End to Dynamic Pricing in Grocery Stores
The proposed law would ban surge pricing using electronic shelf labels and impose penalties up to $25,000 for violations to protect consumers from unpredictable grocery costs.
- On Monday, Governor Wes Moore unveiled the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act at BD Provisions, a bulk grocery store in Anne Arundel County, to ban dynamic pricing in Maryland grocery stores.
- Officials warn electronic shelf labels and algorithms could let food costs surge by time of day, demand or weather, and some retailers already use these digital pricing tools, raising concern devices may be installed SOON.
- Enforcement would fall to the state attorney general, with fines of $10,000 for a first offense and up to $25,000 for subsequent offenses under the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act.
- Facing both support and opposition, the bill has strong backing from Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Pe�a-Melnyk, while the Maryland Retailers Alliance argues concerns arise from misunderstanding dynamic pricing, and Deborah Saltz, owner of BD Provisions, supports making groceries more affordable.
- The administration framed the change as protecting working families and cited a working mom example, warning algorithms that can be weaponized and devices that enable rapid wireless price changes could be installed SOON.
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14 Articles
No Intraday Grocery Price Changes Proposed
Governor Wes Moore announced the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act on January 20, 2026, in Annapolis as part of his legislative agenda for the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session. The proposed legislation aims to prohibit dynamic pricing and the use of surveillance data for individualized pricing in grocery stores across Maryland. The bill targets the growing use of electronic shelf labels by retailers, which enable instant price changes.…
Moore, legislative leaders look to curtail 'dynamic pricing' in Maryland grocery stores
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel), flanked by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), speaks Tuesday at a Severna Park bulk-food market on "dynamic pricing" legislation. (Photo by Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters)Gov. Wes Moore (D) and legislative leaders unveiled legislation Tuesday they said will prohibit so-called “dynamic pricing,” to ensure that Maryland grocery store…
Gov. Moore introduces bill to stop predatory pricing in Maryland grocery stores
Gov. Wes Moore announced the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act during a press conference Tuesday afternoon, targeting unfair pricing practices in Maryland grocery stores. The Governor’s Office stated that the bill would prohibit dynamic pricing and surveillance-based individualized pricing at grocery stores across the state. While Moore did not specify which grocery stores are involved, he indicated that there is “concrete evidence” of such …
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