Empty Promises, Big Paydays: Kroger and Albertsons CEOs Fail to Justify Largest Supermarket Merger in History
September 6, 2024 — Following testimony this week from Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen and Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran in the Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger-Albertsons hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, where the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and nine state attorneys general are seeking a preliminary injunction to hit “pause” on the biggest supermarket merger in history, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
Economic Liberties Applauds DOT for Demanding Transparency and Answers on Airline Loyalty Programs
September 5, 2024 — In response to a new mandatory order from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requiring the nation’s Big Four air carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines—to provide detailed information on their frequent flyer programs, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
Kroger’s Pricing Strategies and Market Control Scrutinized in Day 2 of Merger Hearing
August 28, 2024 — After the second day of the Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger-Albertsons hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following summary—from Research Manager Laurel Kilgour, reporting from Portland—of the key arguments made and points discussed.
Economic Liberties Endorses Pharmacists Fight Back Act
August 16, 2024 — Following the introduction of the Pharmacists Fight Back Act—a bipartisan bill that aims to reduce drug prices, protect community pharmacies, and ensure patient choice by reining in the exploitative practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—from Rep. Jake Auchincloss and Rep. Diana Harshbarger, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.
Apple’s Extortion of Patreon Creators is Fallout From Delayed Justice in Antitrust Lawsuit; Lawmakers Must Act to Fix App Store Markets
August 14, 2024 — Earlier this week, Apple threatened to remove popular crowdfunding app Patreon from the iOS App Store unless Patreon forces the creators using its services—typically independent podcasters, musicians, artists, and developers—to use Apple’s own billing system. This would impose a 30% transaction fee on them, one significantly higher than the fee they currently pay to Patreon. In response, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement.