Retail Competition

Competition

Intense competition is the hallmark of America’s retail industry, driving innovation and bringing consumers lower prices and great products and services. Unfortunately, the absence of competition elsewhere in the retail ecosystem stifles the benefits that naturally result from competition.

Regulators and lawmakers are continuing their investigations into how large technology firms use their power to stifle competition and harm consumers. These ongoing investigations present an opportunity to shed light on harmful practices by tech platforms, including Amazon, Meta, and Google. Consequently, RILA is engaging with regulators and policymakers to identify anticompetitive practices that harm consumers and contributing constructively to the development of potential solutions.  

RILA believes that strong competition in retail-related industries will benefit consumers and allow retailers to thrive. As such, RILA is encouraging policymakers to take four primary courses of action: closely examine technology platforms’ anti-competitive behavior; scrutinize information infrastructure firms; carefully consider anticompetitive data use; and review competitor cooperation that is no longer technologically necessary—particularly in the area of credit interchange.  

RILA urges policymakers to closely scrutinize these areas and take action to strengthen a healthy, competitive marketplace.