Text Size + - SPECIAL REPORT: War worries prompt call for fuel
gouging investigation  Sens. Joe Lieberman, D-CT, and Chuck
Schumer, D-NY, asked federal officials to review petroleum
markets amid concerns of fuel-price gouging as oil supplies
tighten and diesel and gas prices hit record-breaking levels.
However, little action is expected.  The Clinton administration
in 2000 requested a Federal Trade Commission study of price
gouging in response to concerns about oil company mergers, price
fixing and collusion to hold reserves. But the FTC concluded the
concerns were not warranted.  In fact, while the National
Association of State Attorneys General told Land Line about 17
states have price gouging statutes, they mostly cover gouging to
cover essentials and necessities and are triggered by a
governor's declaration of an emergency.  In the end, prices are
not regulated and are determined by what the market will bear,
as long as there is no collusion or price fixing.  "Once again,
we see calls for price gouging i