price control

American  

noun

1. government regulation of prices by establishing maximum price levels for goods or services, as during a period of inflation.

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price control British  

noun

1. the establishment and maintenance of maximum price levels for basic goods and services by a government, esp during periods of war or inflation

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Etymology

Origin of price control

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

What is understood by most economists, however, is that a federal rate cap would function as a price control for the consumer credit markets.

From Barron's • Jan. 13, 2026

The consensus among forecasters is that it will be roughly inflation-neutral; its first drug price control, a $35 monthly cap on insulin, does not start until next year.

From Washington Post • Oct. 22, 2022

The Bahamas on Wednesday outlined the details of temporary price control measures aimed at helping families brave mounting global inflation, saying they would affect 38 key staples, such as eggs, bread and sanitary towels.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2022

Among the most notable moments: Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, asked whether importing drugs from countries with price controls would translate into a form of price control in the U.S.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 19, 2022

Fearful that the price control program might be effectively nullified by injunctions, Congress provided for a special court and special procedures for contesting the validity of price regulations.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel

Related Words

• restraint