TRENTON -- With a state of emergency in effect in New Jersey, the state's attorney general is warning residents to be on the lookout for sky-high prices

State authorities issued a price gouging alert ahead of the nor'easter that brought snow, sleet, high winds and coastal flooding to the Garden State.

New Jersey law prohibits businesses from hiking prices for goods more than 10 percent after a state of emergency is declared -- a measure meant to keep costs down for potentially life-saving provisions.

"Any merchant that unlawfully increases prices for food, gas, hotel rooms, generators, or other necessary items or services in connection with this State of Emergency will face serious consequences," Attorney General Christopher Porrino said in a statement Monday night. "The state's price gouging laws will be strictly enforced to protect consumers from being victimized at a time when they're at their most vulnerable."

Gov. Chris Christie declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the blizzard on Monday, closing state offices on Tuesday and ordering all "non-essential" employees who are not involved in the response to the storm to stay home.

Steve Lee, the director of the state Division of Consumer affairs, said investigators were "prepared to take action to enforce the laws to protect consumers from unscrupulous merchants seeking to unfairly profit from their suffering."

Price-gougers can face stiff civil penalties of up to $10,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for each following offense.

The state has set up a voicemail box for complaints related to the winter storm at (973) 504-6240 where anyone can report instances of price gouging.

S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook.