FTC and States Sue Dollar General Over Pricing

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states have filed a lawsuit against Dollar General, alleging that the retailer has engaged in deceptive pricing practices by charging customers more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves and in advertisements. According to official statements and court filings, Dollar General repeatedly received tens of thousands of consumer complaints about these pricing discrepancies but failed to address the issue adequately, despite being aware of the problem within the company. The lawsuit asserts that these practices violated federal and state consumer protection laws, including the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. States participating in the lawsuit include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. The complaint further claims that Dollar General's actions resulted in millions of dollars in unlawful overcharges, predominantly impacting low-income shoppers. The retailer's stock fell approximately 4% following the announcement. Dollar General has not responded to requests for comment from news organizations.