U.S. regulators require information from nine companies involved in product research

The Federal Trade Commission has appealed to retailers and retail groups in the US, including Amazon and Walmart, to provide information about their online chain while being searched barriers and high prices that disrupt the economy.

The move announced Monday by the FTC, the US competition regulator, will force American companies to protect their prices and business practices and do more. reducing residues before the holiday shopping season – very busy with Biden management.

“Metabolic disorders are exacerbating the supply and shipping of many goods, from computer chips and medicine to meat and wood products,” Lina Khan, chairman of the FTC, said in a statement.

“I believe the FTC has changed… Research will shed light on the markets and trading systems that have led to this distortion or brought about asymmetric effects,” he added.

The FTC is looking for information from nine companies, including retailer Kroger, Procter & Gamble retailer, meat manufacturer Tyson Foods and food company Kraft Heinz, as well as a number of retailers.

The announcement of the inquiry came as President Joe Biden met with a group of senior officials at the White House to stress the importance of good governance. supply chain work during the holidays.

Although the US economy has been booming since Biden took office, public perceptions of recovery and how the authorities have helped have been affected by rising prices and, in some cases, delays and difficulties in obtaining supplies.

The FTC investigation is at risk of escalating tensions between American companies and Biden executives, as it involves asking for more information, and it shows that corporate practices could lead to their deterioration.

The FTC will study whether the disruption of the process will lead to “real problems, shortages, anti-competitive practices, or contributing to rising consumer prices”.

Biden is expected to comment on the chain on Monday which was delayed until Wednesday. Earlier this month, the FTC re-launched an investigation into rising oil prices as the Biden government sought to force oil companies to reduce falling prices in their region.

Major retailers have expressed confidence that their efforts to bring goods into the country earlier than usual will help them meet consumer demand, which Matthew Shay, head of the National Retail Federation, said he was “impressed” by the history of fundraising.

“Everywhere, consumers are in the right place; they have $ 4tn, they are buying, sales are very high this year [and] we look forward to a good holiday season, “Shay told CNN on Friday. [consumers] they have found the gifts they have on their list. “

What starts on Thanksgiving weekend shows that money in the store has risen sharply since last year’s epidemic, but spending money online came to the end of what experts expect.