It is unlawful for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell any consumer food items or goods for a price of more than 10 percent greater than the price charged by that person for those goods or services immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency, unless the person can justify the price increase due to additional costs. It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be liberally construed so that its beneficial purposes may be served.