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 <WSD>price</WSD> increases in some relation to cost increases . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)