FTC and 20 states file lawsuit against Dollar General over alleged pricing inaccuracies

The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from 20 states have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Nashville accusing Dollar General of regularly charging customers higher prices than those displayed on shelves, tags or advertisements. The complaint, which references a December 2025 investigation by The Guardian, alleges that the pricing discrepancy has persisted for years and impacts millions of transactions across the retailer’s more than 20,000 U.S. stores.

The FTC, which enforces consumer-protection laws, said the chain’s internal policies meant to keep register prices aligned with shelf labels are not effectively implemented. The complaint notes that employees are instructed to replace outdated labels on set days, but understaffing often prevents the task from being completed, and the company does not track whether labels are actually affixed.

A lead sales associate quoted in the Guardian interview said they sometimes discarded tags to avoid trouble, and Dollar General has previously stated it is committed to providing accurate prices. In Ohio court filings, the retailer’s lawyers argued that achieving perfect alignment between shelf and scanned prices for every item is not feasible under the law.

"Dollar General has for years engaged in deceptive conduct that harms the very consumers it claims to serve," the complaint states.

"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," said Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s bureau of consumer protection.

Dollar General declined to comment for this report but previously expressed disappointment when it fails to meet its pricing commitments.