Chancellor Healey warns of price gouging at petrol pumps and supermarkets
Chancellor John Healey warned that he will monitor for price gouging at petrol pumps and supermarkets as part of cost of living measures.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Chancellor John Healey has warned that he will be watching closely to protect the public from price gouging at petrol pumps and supermarkets, as the war in Iran continues to drive up costs for consumers. In an article in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Healey said the government cannot completely stop the squeeze on families and businesses, but would intervene if price hikes are unfair. He said companies have been engaging positively with the government during the crisis and that there is no significant evidence of price gouging. He also noted that regulators have the powers to step in and stop unfair price rises.
The warning comes as petrol prices have hit their highest level since 2022, according to reports. The previous administration had announced proposals to give the Competition and Markets Authority new powers to impose penalties and name companies that raise prices excessively during crises.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham is making the cost of living a top priority. He has promised more government help for struggling families, including cutting rail fares and reforming the water sector. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, he said help is on the way. Downing Street has also announced a renewed focus on cost of living pressures and promised pro-consumer measures to give people "some room to breathe." However, the budget is not until the end of October, and the new chancellor has said he wants to keep a firm grip on public finances, so there is limited room for manoeuvre.
The Prime Minister is also facing questions over the early release of prisoners, with some high-profile cases not covered by the exemptions.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chancellor John Healey wrote in the Sunday Telegraph warning about price gouging at petrol pumps and supermarkets. | · | |||
| Healey said the government will watch closely for price gouging and take action against profiteering. | · | |||
| The government announced a renewed focus on cost of living, with the prime minister citing rail fares, VAT, and electricity bills as areas for action. | · | · | ||
| Andy Burnham promised more government help for families, targeting rail fares and the water sector. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham said rail fares are too high and he is looking at cutting them. | · | · | · | |
| Healey said there has been no significant evidence of price gouging so far. | · | · | · | |
| The prime minister is expected to face questions on the early release of prisoners. | · | · | · | |
| There is limited room for manoeuvre on cost of living measures because the budget is not until the end of October and the chancellor wants to keep a firm grip on public finances. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This segment focuses on the details of Healey's warning, explaining what price gouging means and the context of the Iran war. It also highlights the political constraints and the previous statements by other ministers, giving a balanced analytical view.
- “the chancellor John Healy has said he will be watching closely to protect the public from price gouging at the petrol pump and in supermarkets.”
- “Price gouging is where prices go up in a way, more than they should do at a time of crisis.”
- “the government is not going to be able to completely protect families and businesses against the squeeze, as he puts it.”
Sky News frames the story around Andy Burnham's broader cost of living agenda, including rail fares and water sector reform, while also covering Healey's warning. It emphasises the government's top priority and the PM's two weeks in office.
- “Andy Burnham is today promising more government help for families struggling to pay their bills in the cost of living crisis.”
- “Mr Healey is writing in the Sunday Telegraph and he's talking about the threat of higher prices at the pumps and at the supermarket tills because of the Iran war.”
- “we'll be watching closely for any suggestions that customers are being taken for a ride at the pump or at the till.”
ITV News gives a concise summary of Healey's statement, focusing on his intention to monitor prices and his acceptance that the government cannot fully shield families. It is brief and factual without additional analysis.
- “Chancellor John Healey says he will be keeping an eye on prices at petrol stations and supermarkets to try to protect customers from the economic impact of the war in Iran.”
- “he accepted he can't completely stop the squeeze on families and businesses, but suggested he would intervene if he believes price hikes are unfair.”
This BBC segment shifts focus to the Prime Minister's return and Downing Street's renewed cost of living push, including pro-consumer measures. It also raises the early release of prisoners issue, showing a broader political context.
- “the Prime Minister Andy Burnham will return from his summer break on Monday. And ahead of that, Downing Street has announced a renewed focus on cost of living pressures.”
- “it's also promised pro-consumer measures to give people what they say will be some room to breathe.”
- “I don't think Andy Burnham is going to be splashing the cash just yet.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.