ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS, COSTING U.S. CONSUMERS $80 BILLION A YEAR, FEED INFLATIONARY FIRES

RECENT PRONOUNCEMENTS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ARE INDICATIVE OF THE GROWING AWARENESS THAT ILLEGAL ANTITRUST ACTIVITIES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN INFLATION. HARD EVIDENCE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THIS CONCLUSION, BUT IT IS BELIEVED TO BE TRUE BY MANY. THE NEWSPAPERS ARE REPLETE WITH ALLEGATIONS, CONSENT AGREEMENTS, OR JUDGMENTS CONCERNING PRICE FIXING. THESE ARE PRIMARILY ON THE INTERSTATE LEVEL. HOWEVER, CONCERTED PRICE- FIXING CAN OCCUR EVEN AT THE INTRASTATE LEVEL. IF THE BATTLE AGAINST INFLATION IS TO BE WON, IT WILL TAKE THE EFFORTS OF FEDERAL AND STATE LAW OFFICIALS AS WELL AS HONEST MARKETERS. EVEN IF ONLY SOME OF THE LOSSES COULD BE ELIMINATED, IT WOULD HELP INFLATIONARY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THE ODDS ARE AGAINST RELENTLESS ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT ON THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS.