Federal, state officials boost vigilance on gas prices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With U.S. consumers angry over high gasoline costs, federal and state officials met this week to improve their coordination for investigating pump pricing this summer for potential illegal activity.

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Majoras discussed the issue on Monday with officials from 14 state attorneys general offices.

During the closed-door, one-hour meeting at the Justice Department, Gonzales and Majoras told the attorneys general the Bush administration was committed to going after energy companies that illegally charge consumers for gasoline.

“We discussed several ways to improve federal and state cooperation in this area, and I look forward to continuing our conversation on ways to protect American consumers in this critical market,” the FTC’s Majoras said in a statement.

Reuters