FTC and states sue Dollar General over checkout prices

The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on October 26, alleging the retailer charged shoppers more at checkout than prices displayed on shelves, tags and advertisements. The case was filed in federal court in Tennessee; the allegations have not been adjudicated. ^[1]

The complaint says the company recorded at least 29,265 complaints about marked prices from January 2023 through March 2026. In one cited Cleveland purchase, investigators counted eight overcharges and five undercharges, for a net $3.25 overcharge. Those examples are allegations and do not establish a nationwide error rate. ^[2]

Dollar General says occasional discrepancies can occur and that store teams are expected to correct them. It disputes the FTC’s proposed monetary calculation and says it will defend the case; the company’s statement does not resolve the allegations. ^[3]

Ohio’s attorney general says the state sued the company over shelf and register prices in 2022, then reached a $1 million settlement the following year requiring steps to address discrepancies. That earlier agreement is separate from the new federal case. ^[4]

For shoppers facing a mismatch, Georgia’s consumer-protection office advises checking the receipt before leaving and raising a discrepancy with the cashier or manager. Its general price-scanning guide also points to state and federal complaint channels. ^[5]

About this item: News report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.