Los Angeles Times - Gas giants use AI to raise prices, lawsuit says, another algorithmic hit to the cost of living

July 1, 2026

As consumers feel the budget crunch, there has been renewed focus on companies’ pricing behavior, said Ted Mermin, executive director at the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice.

“People can’t afford to make ends meet,” he said. “Why is that? A lot of that has to do with there is no competition. And people know that.”