(1) In an economic market there are periods of disruption of the market which cause an uneven flow of supply of consumer goods. During these periods, consumer demand outweighs supply, sometimes heavily.

(2) These periods of disruption result from many factors, including extreme weather conditions, depletion of stockpiles, labor strikes, civil disorder, natural or manmade emergencies or disasters and military action.

(3) During these periods, parties involved in the sale and resale of consumer goods and services sometimes take unfair advantage of consumers in this Commonwealth by charging unconscionably excessive prices, or price gouging.

(4) To prevent this, the General Assembly should prohibit price gouging and impose penalties on violators.