Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 19 other states in suing Dollar General Corp for “engaging in long-running deceptive pricing practices.” Mayes wrote in an Oct. 26 press release that the corporation routinely mischarged customers by charging higher than the prices displayed on shelves and price tags.
“Dollar General has ripped off Arizonans by systematically charging more for products than they advertised,” Mayes said. “The Arizona Attorney General’s Office will not allow greedy corporations to lie to their customers and take financial advantage of communities who can least afford it.”
The complaint alleges that thousands of Dollar General stores have “taken advantage” of shoppers through unlawful overcharges. The chain, which runs over 21,000 stores in the US, is seen as a low-cost alternative for families, selling items for as low as $1. The plaintiffs argued that the company was aware of its practices, receiving 29,265 complaints in the 48 states it operates in between January 2023 and March 2026, but failed to act.
FTC investigators posed as shoppers in several store locations across different states, and confirmed final total results at the register differed from the prices advertised.
What comes next
The plaintiffs wrote that the business, as described by its CEO, is “uniquely positioned to serve underserved customers in rural communities.” The states argue that it’s intertwined within those communities, and that the company is aware its customers “rely on [Dollar General] to stretch their Dollars,” arguing that low prices are crucial for lower-income customers who need accurate pricing to ensure financial stability.
The other states in the suit include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Dollar General did not reply to a request for comment by the time of publication.
A Tennessee judge will determine if Dollar General customers and the suing states deserve financial compensation.
