White House competition council seeks lower consumer prices

At the first meeting of a new White House council on U.S. economic conditions, participants are set to highlight at least 18 actions taken to help consumers and potentially lower prices

A new White House council on U.S. economic conditions plans to hold its first meeting Friday, with participants to highlight at least 18 actions taken to help consumers and potentially lower prices. The council, an outgrowth of a July executive order by President Joe Biden, is aimed at refocusing the U.S. economy around the interests of consumers, workers and entrepreneurs. Details about the meeting were provided by two administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the gathering. The goal is to foster a more dynamic economy in which competition among companies leads to more transparency, greater choice and potential savings for customers. Biden's order has been criticized by some Republican lawmakers and business groups for its emphasis on regulation. The decision to convene the council in the Roosevelt Room carries a degree of symbolism: The room is named for the trust-busting President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican.