Sentence:  The threat of effective anti-trust action , provoked by `` gouging the public '' through price increases not justified by cost increases , and fears of endangering relations with customers , Congress , the general public and the press , all operate to keep price increases in some relation to <WSD>cost</WSD> increases . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor