Lawmakers Demand Price Transparency From Dollar General, Family Dollar

Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in demanding price transparency from Dollar General and Family Dollar amid reports of misleading shelf pricing at the discount chains.

In a letter dated Dec. 19, Budzinski and her colleagues, including Reps. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, and Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., pressed the companies’ CEOs for details on practices where advertised prices on shelves do not match checkout totals, a tactic highlighted in recent investigative reporting.​

The lawmakers cited a Guardian article detailing customer complaints of overcharges totaling 20% or more on grocery baskets, urging the retailers to explain their pricing policies, training for employees and plans to address discrepancies by Jan. 9.​

Broader Context

Dollar General and Family Dollar, which operate thousands of stores nationwide, have faced growing scrutiny over “bait-and-switch” pricing strategies that allegedly exploit low-income shoppers seeking affordable essentials.​

Budzinski’s letter references federal laws like the FTC Act and state consumer protection statutes, warning that such practices could constitute deceptive trade acts.​

The inquiry aligns with ongoing congressional efforts to curb corporate practices inflating costs for consumers amid economic pressures.​

Key Demands

• Full disclosure of pricing verification processes at checkout.
• Employee training protocols to prevent mismatches.
• Data on complaint volumes and resolution rates over the past year.​

Lawmaker Statements

“American families deserve honest pricing, especially at stores they rely on for basics,” Budzinski wrote, emphasizing the impact on working-class communities.​

No immediate response from Dollar General or Family Dollar was available as of Dec. 21. The chains have previously defended their practices as standard retail operations.​