FTC and 20 states sue Dollar General over alleged deceptive pricing

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against discount retailer Dollar General, alleging that the chain routinely charges customers higher prices at the register than the prices displayed on shelves and in advertisements. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, is supported by 20 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California and others.

The FTC says Dollar General was aware of the pricing discrepancies but failed to correct them, resulting in what the agency describes as “long-running deceptive pricing practices.”

"Dollar General has betrayed the trust of millions of American consumers and imposed significant financial harm on communities and consumers who are already struggling to make their paychecks last," wrote Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, has not responded to requests for comment.