DG$128.42▼ 3.2%FTC says its undercover buys found Dollar General overcharging after seven settlements
The FTC and 20 states sued Dollar General on Oct. 26 over register prices higher than its shelves show. Its 8-K that evening disclosed a Jan. 30 FTC demand for information, a first in its filings.
KeyVex News··5 min readFact-checked against 7 public recordsKeyVex News··5 min readFact-checked against 7 public recordsDG$128.42▼ 3.2%Close, Oct. 26. Prices from Tiingo.The short versionTap to readTap to close
- States settled with Dollar General over wrong prices seven times from 2019 to 2025, the complaint says, and New York did on Oct. 15. Together, about $8.6 million from 2019 to 2026, by KeyVex's math.
- The FTC, a federal consumer-protection agency, says the overcharging continued, citing its own undercover purchases in 2026. With 20 states, it now asks a federal court for money, civil penalties and an order.
- Its annual report and two quarterly reports, filed after the FTC's Jan. 30 demand, don't mention the FTC. Dollar General says the inquiry was nonpublic, with no findings or settlement demand before Sept. 23.
- Dollar General says the FTC's demands overstate any harm, and it will fight. A loss could have a "material adverse effect," it says, a warning its reports also give for a shareholder suit.
- Next: the case is in federal court in Tennessee. A shareholder suit claiming it misstated how its store practices, pricing among them, affected results awaited a ruling on dismissal as of Aug. 27.
The suit: The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General on Oct. 26, saying the discount chain charges shoppers more at the register than its shelves, price tags and ads display.FTC The complaint's allegations span 2019 through April 2026, and the suit seeks money, civil penalties and a court order.Complaint8-K From January 2023 to March 2026, Dollar General received at least 29,265 complaints categorized as "Did Not Honor Marked Price," the complaint says.Complaint
The settlements: States have settled with Dollar General over prices before: seven times from 2019 to 2025, for more than $6 million, the complaint says.Complaint On Oct. 15, eleven days before the suit, New York added an eighth: $1.875 million of food and personal items Dollar General agreed to donate.New York AG
Why it matters: All eight come to about $8.6 million in settlements from 2019 to 2026, by KeyVex's math. Dollar General earned $1.51 billion in its fiscal 2025 alone, which ended Jan. 30, 2026.10-K The complaint says Dollar General has not put in adequate safeguards to prevent continued overcharging. In each of four FTC undercover purchases in 2026, it says, several items rang up above the posted price. Now a federal court will hear the case, with the FTC and 20 states asking for money, civil penalties and an order.Complaint8-K
The filing: That evening, after the close, Dollar General disclosed that it had been answering an FTC demand for information since early February. Its 8-K, the form companies use to report major events to investors, says the demand was dated Jan. 30 and issued in a nonpublic investigation.8-K It was the first of Dollar General's SEC filings to mention the FTC's inquiry.EDGAR search
Dollar General's stock and the story's key datesDaily close, Jan. 2 to Oct. 26, 2026 ▼ 6.1%Show chartHide chart
- 1Jan. 16, 2026 The FTC's first undercover purchase. At a store in Cleveland, 13 of 58 items rang up at a price different from the label or shelf, the complaint says. Close: $148.74.
- 2Jan. 30, 2026 The FTC's demand for information. The date of the FTC's Civil Investigative Demand, issued in a nonpublic investigation, Dollar General's 8-K says. Close: $143.43.
- 3Sept. 23, 2026 The FTC staff's draft complaint. Received with a draft settlement order and a demand for money, Dollar General's 8-K says. Close: $120.60.
- 4Oct. 15, 2026 New York's settlement. New York's attorney general announced $1.875 million in donated goods and twice-yearly price audits of every New York store. Close: $133.89.
- 5Oct. 26, 2026 The FTC and 20 states sue. Dollar General filed its 8-K at 5:26 p.m., after the close. Close: $128.42.
View the data (205 trading days)
| Date | Close | Day change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-26 | $128.42 | −3.2% |
| 2026-10-23 | $132.69 | −4.6% |
| 2026-10-22 | $139.11 | +5.3% |
| 2026-10-21 | $132.12 | −1.5% |
| 2026-10-20 | $134.19 | +0.7% |
| 2026-10-19 | $133.27 | −0.8% |
| 2026-10-16 | $134.36 | +0.4% |
| 2026-10-15 | $133.89 | +3.0% |
| 2026-10-14 | $129.94 | +4.0% |
| 2026-10-13 | $125.00 | −1.2% |
| 2026-10-12 | $126.54 | −0.5% |
| 2026-10-09 | $127.23 | +2.4% |
| 2026-10-08 | $124.27 | +1.7% |
| 2026-10-07 | $122.14 | −0.9% |
| 2026-10-06 | $123.27 | +3.3% |
| 2026-10-05 | $119.32 | +0.3% |
| 2026-10-02 | $118.94 | 0.0% |
| 2026-10-01 | $118.93 | −0.5% |
| 2026-09-30 | $119.58 | −2.5% |
| 2026-09-29 | $122.64 | −1.4% |
| 2026-09-28 | $124.37 | −0.4% |
| 2026-09-25 | $124.84 | +1.9% |
| 2026-09-24 | $122.53 | +1.6% |
| 2026-09-23 | $120.60 | −1.7% |
| 2026-09-22 | $122.63 | +0.6% |
| 2026-09-21 | $121.91 | −0.4% |
| 2026-09-18 | $122.41 | −2.0% |
| 2026-09-17 | $124.95 | +1.6% |
| 2026-09-16 | $123.01 | −1.4% |
| 2026-09-15 | $124.70 | −3.5% |
| 2026-09-14 | $129.17 | +3.7% |
| 2026-09-11 | $124.58 | +1.3% |
| 2026-09-10 | $122.99 | −1.3% |
| 2026-09-09 | $124.57 | −2.6% |
| 2026-09-08 | $127.87 | −4.0% |
| 2026-09-04 | $133.21 | +1.5% |
| 2026-09-03 | $131.26 | +0.3% |
| 2026-09-02 | $130.89 | −0.2% |
| 2026-09-01 | $131.09 | +3.4% |
| 2026-08-31 | $126.75 | +3.1% |
| 2026-08-28 | $122.89 | −2.4% |
| 2026-08-27 | $125.89 | +2.5% |
| 2026-08-26 | $122.78 | +0.2% |
| 2026-08-25 | $122.58 | −2.2% |
| 2026-08-24 | $125.33 | +1.6% |
| 2026-08-21 | $123.41 | +2.3% |
| 2026-08-20 | $120.58 | −1.4% |
| 2026-08-19 | $122.31 | +1.2% |
| 2026-08-18 | $120.84 | +0.6% |
| 2026-08-17 | $120.08 | −2.6% |
| 2026-08-14 | $123.28 | +1.0% |
| 2026-08-13 | $122.08 | +2.1% |
| 2026-08-12 | $119.60 | −0.4% |
| 2026-08-11 | $120.07 | −1.9% |
| 2026-08-10 | $122.42 | −3.3% |
| 2026-08-07 | $126.59 | −0.7% |
| 2026-08-06 | $127.45 | +0.4% |
| 2026-08-05 | $126.94 | −0.3% |
| 2026-08-04 | $127.26 | −0.4% |
| 2026-08-03 | $127.72 | +0.5% |
| 2026-07-31 | $127.05 | −0.4% |
| 2026-07-30 | $127.50 | −0.9% |
| 2026-07-29 | $128.68 | +2.2% |
| 2026-07-28 | $125.97 | +2.2% |
| 2026-07-27 | $123.22 | +5.1% |
| 2026-07-24 | $117.23 | +1.8% |
| 2026-07-23 | $115.16 | −4.2% |
| 2026-07-22 | $120.24 | −2.4% |
| 2026-07-21 | $123.20 | −1.2% |
| 2026-07-20 | $124.75 | −0.8% |
| 2026-07-17 | $125.75 | −1.1% |
| 2026-07-16 | $127.16 | +4.8% |
| 2026-07-15 | $121.28 | +0.9% |
| 2026-07-14 | $120.14 | −2.7% |
| 2026-07-13 | $123.44 | +3.8% |
| 2026-07-10 | $118.92 | +2.8% |
| 2026-07-09 | $115.73 | +0.8% |
| 2026-07-08 | $114.80 | −0.5% |
| 2026-07-07 | $115.43 | −0.7% |
| 2026-07-06 | $116.27 | −1.6% |
| 2026-07-02 | $118.17 | +2.6% |
| 2026-07-01 | $115.20 | +0.1% |
| 2026-06-30 | $115.11 | −2.1% |
| 2026-06-29 | $117.52 | −1.7% |
| 2026-06-26 | $119.51 | +1.7% |
| 2026-06-25 | $117.56 | −1.4% |
| 2026-06-24 | $119.17 | +4.0% |
| 2026-06-23 | $114.58 | +1.9% |
| 2026-06-22 | $112.46 | −0.9% |
| 2026-06-18 | $113.45 | +4.4% |
| 2026-06-17 | $108.69 | −4.4% |
| 2026-06-16 | $113.75 | −2.3% |
| 2026-06-15 | $116.39 | +1.4% |
| 2026-06-12 | $114.80 | +0.4% |
| 2026-06-11 | $114.34 | +4.0% |
| 2026-06-10 | $109.96 | +0.5% |
| 2026-06-09 | $109.38 | +2.4% |
| 2026-06-08 | $106.82 | +3.0% |
| 2026-06-05 | $103.70 | +0.2% |
| 2026-06-04 | $103.52 | −1.5% |
| 2026-06-03 | $105.09 | −1.1% |
| 2026-06-02 | $106.27 | −3.3% |
| 2026-06-01 | $109.93 | −0.6% |
| 2026-05-29 | $110.61 | +0.6% |
| 2026-05-28 | $109.90 | +5.3% |
| 2026-05-27 | $104.33 | +0.7% |
| 2026-05-26 | $103.61 | −1.9% |
| 2026-05-22 | $105.65 | +0.5% |
| 2026-05-21 | $105.11 | +0.5% |
| 2026-05-20 | $104.61 | +1.1% |
| 2026-05-19 | $103.48 | −2.6% |
| 2026-05-18 | $106.23 | +3.8% |
| 2026-05-15 | $102.38 | −2.5% |
| 2026-05-14 | $105.05 | +3.2% |
| 2026-05-13 | $101.75 | −1.2% |
| 2026-05-12 | $102.98 | −1.6% |
| 2026-05-11 | $104.63 | −7.6% |
| 2026-05-08 | $113.29 | −2.7% |
| 2026-05-07 | $116.47 | +0.1% |
| 2026-05-06 | $116.37 | −0.5% |
| 2026-05-05 | $117.01 | +2.2% |
| 2026-05-04 | $114.48 | 0.0% |
| 2026-05-01 | $114.43 | −1.3% |
| 2026-04-30 | $115.88 | +1.5% |
| 2026-04-29 | $114.13 | −1.5% |
| 2026-04-28 | $115.82 | −1.3% |
| 2026-04-27 | $117.35 | −2.8% |
| 2026-04-24 | $120.71 | −1.1% |
| 2026-04-23 | $122.06 | −0.9% |
| 2026-04-22 | $123.20 | −0.7% |
| 2026-04-21 | $124.11 | −1.9% |
| 2026-04-20 | $126.46 | −0.2% |
| 2026-04-17 | $126.68 | +2.6% |
| 2026-04-16 | $123.47 | +1.6% |
| 2026-04-15 | $121.56 | +1.6% |
| 2026-04-14 | $119.59 | +0.3% |
| 2026-04-13 | $119.26 | +3.1% |
| 2026-04-10 | $115.73 | −3.4% |
| 2026-04-09 | $119.75 | −2.7% |
| 2026-04-08 | $123.05 | +1.5% |
| 2026-04-07 | $121.21 | −3.0% |
| 2026-04-06 | $125.01 | +4.4% |
| 2026-04-02 | $119.74 | +2.2% |
| 2026-04-01 | $117.17 | −1.3% |
| 2026-03-31 | $118.73 | +0.8% |
| 2026-03-30 | $117.84 | +0.6% |
| 2026-03-27 | $117.16 | −1.7% |
| 2026-03-26 | $119.23 | −0.3% |
| 2026-03-25 | $119.55 | +1.4% |
| 2026-03-24 | $117.88 | −5.8% |
| 2026-03-23 | $125.11 | +0.5% |
| 2026-03-20 | $124.52 | +0.9% |
| 2026-03-19 | $123.45 | −2.5% |
| 2026-03-18 | $126.67 | −3.3% |
| 2026-03-17 | $130.93 | −2.9% |
| 2026-03-16 | $134.85 | +2.3% |
| 2026-03-13 | $131.84 | −3.0% |
| 2026-03-12 | $135.95 | −6.1% |
| 2026-03-11 | $144.84 | −0.8% |
| 2026-03-10 | $146.00 | +0.3% |
| 2026-03-09 | $145.52 | −0.5% |
| 2026-03-06 | $146.31 | −0.2% |
| 2026-03-05 | $146.55 | −3.3% |
| 2026-03-04 | $151.60 | −0.9% |
| 2026-03-03 | $153.04 | +0.3% |
| 2026-03-02 | $152.62 | −2.3% |
| 2026-02-27 | $156.24 | +1.5% |
| 2026-02-26 | $154.00 | −0.5% |
| 2026-02-25 | $154.79 | +0.5% |
| 2026-02-24 | $153.96 | +0.7% |
| 2026-02-23 | $152.90 | +1.5% |
| 2026-02-20 | $150.64 | −0.8% |
| 2026-02-19 | $151.79 | −0.2% |
| 2026-02-18 | $152.02 | +1.6% |
| 2026-02-17 | $149.68 | −2.7% |
| 2026-02-13 | $153.84 | +3.6% |
| 2026-02-12 | $148.56 | +1.0% |
| 2026-02-11 | $147.16 | +0.6% |
| 2026-02-10 | $146.25 | −0.8% |
| 2026-02-09 | $147.37 | +0.5% |
| 2026-02-06 | $146.65 | +1.2% |
| 2026-02-05 | $144.90 | −2.9% |
| 2026-02-04 | $149.25 | +0.8% |
| 2026-02-03 | $148.04 | +3.2% |
| 2026-02-02 | $143.51 | +0.1% |
| 2026-01-30 | $143.43 | +1.2% |
| 2026-01-29 | $141.78 | −2.2% |
| 2026-01-28 | $145.04 | −1.8% |
| 2026-01-27 | $147.66 | −1.8% |
| 2026-01-26 | $150.33 | +2.3% |
| 2026-01-23 | $146.92 | +1.6% |
| 2026-01-22 | $144.60 | −1.7% |
| 2026-01-21 | $147.16 | +0.4% |
| 2026-01-20 | $146.63 | −1.4% |
| 2026-01-16 | $148.74 | −2.0% |
| 2026-01-15 | $151.73 | +0.5% |
| 2026-01-14 | $150.95 | −0.2% |
| 2026-01-13 | $151.25 | +1.6% |
| 2026-01-12 | $148.86 | +4.3% |
| 2026-01-09 | $142.74 | −0.9% |
| 2026-01-08 | $144.00 | +0.3% |
| 2026-01-07 | $143.51 | −0.8% |
| 2026-01-06 | $144.69 | +4.1% |
| 2026-01-05 | $138.93 | +1.5% |
| 2026-01-02 | $136.82 |
Dollar General closed at $128.42 on Oct. 26. Source: Tiingo end-of-day closes, as traded, via KeyVex.
What the FTC says it found
The FTC's undercover purchases ran from Jan. 16 to April 1, in Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In Cleveland, 13 of 58 items rang up wrong; eight were overcharges, five undercharges. Some items rang up below the label in three of the four purchases, and each came out overcharged on net, by $2.60 to $4.07, the complaint says.Complaint
The suit also invokes the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a federal law against using false statements to get people's financial information. The complaint says Dollar General's promises of the advertised price were such statements, made to obtain, or try to obtain, shoppers' card and bank-account information.Complaint
State inspections found the same, the complaint says. Its stores failed more than 39% of pricing inspections in Kansas from 2023 to March 2026, and 53% of 73 inspections in New Mexico from January to April 2026.Complaint
Households earning $35,000 or less bring in 60% of Dollar General's revenue, the complaint says, and it sells around 2,000 items for $1 or less.Complaint It ran 20,959 stores as of Feb. 27, its annual report says.10-K
Eight settlements in seven years
Colorado's and Pennsylvania's 2025 settlements require signs in its stores promising the lowest price when tags and register disagree.Complaint New York's adds unannounced price audits of every New York store twice a fiscal year.New York AG
View the data
| State | $ millions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin (2019) | $11K | $10,586 |
| Vermont (2019) | $1.75M | $1.75 million |
| Wisconsin (2023) | $0.85M | $850,000 |
| New Jersey (2023) | $1.20M | $1.2 million |
| Ohio (2023) | $1.00M | $1 million |
| Colorado (2025) | $0.40M | $400,000 |
| Pennsylvania (2025) | $1.55M | $1.55 million |
| New York (2026) | $1.88M | $1.875 million in donated food and personal items; not in the complaint's list |
Sources: FTC et al. v. Dollar General, complaint, paragraph 83; New York attorney general, Oct. 15, 2026.
What Dollar General told investors
Dollar General Corporation (the “Company”) has been cooperating with the staff of the United States Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) since early February 2026 in response to a Civil Investigative Demand dated January 30, 2026, issued in connection with a non-public investigation …
The investigation looked at how Dollar General marketed, advertised and sold its products, the 8-K says. On Sept. 23 the FTC staff sent a draft complaint, a draft settlement order and what the company calls a demand for "significant monetary relief."8-K
Its annual report came out March 20, its first-quarter report June 2 and its second-quarter report Aug. 27. Their legal-proceedings sections describe shareholder suits from 2023 and 2024. None mentions the FTC, though each lists government investigations or inquiries among its general risks.10-K10-Q10-QEDGAR search The 8-K says the inquiry was nonpublic, and that before Sept. 23 the FTC had shared no findings, made no settlement demand and held no settlement talks with it.8-K
If its defense fails, the 8-K says, the suit "could have a material adverse effect" on its financial statements. Its reports use the same words for the shareholder suit.8-K10-Q
Dollar General's side
Dollar General says that after receiving the draft complaint it tried to resolve the matter without a lawsuit. It calls the FTC's demands unreasonable, built on "assumptions and methodology" it believes "materially overstate any alleged consumer harm," its 8-K says. It "intends to vigorously defend this matter."8-K
The FTC files a complaint when it has "reason to believe" the law is being broken, its release says, and the court decides the case.FTC The FTC's figures are allegations that no court has tested. Dollar General has not yet filed its answer, and its account so far is the one in its 8-K.8-K
What to watch
A ruling on Dollar General's motion to dismiss the shareholder suit over how its store practices, pricing among them, affected results. Briefing ended May 29; still pending as of its Aug. 27 10-Q.
Its third-quarter report, the first since the suit. Dollar General has not announced a date; last year's came Dec. 4.
The paper trail
Dollar General's SEC filings cited here, March 20 through Oct. 26, 2026, with the time EDGAR accepted each one (Eastern).
| Filed (ET) | Form | Filer | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2026, 6:11 a.m. | 10-K | Dollar General | Annual report for fiscal 2025. No mention of the FTC. |
| June 2, 2026, 7:01 a.m. | 10-Q | Dollar General | First-quarter report. No mention of the FTC. |
| Aug. 27, 2026, 7:04 a.m. | 10-Q | Dollar General | Second-quarter report. No mention of the FTC. |
| Oct. 26, 2026, 5:26 p.m. | 8-K | Dollar General | The FTC suit, the investigation's Jan. 30 start and the Sept. 23 draft complaint. |
Sources
9 sources, 7 of them public records
Public records
- Dollar General Corporation, Form 8-K (Item 8.01), Oct. 26, 2026SEC EDGAR · Oct. 26, 2026
- Federal Trade Commission et al. v. Dollar General Corporation, complaint, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of TennesseeFederal Trade Commission · Oct. 26, 2026
- "FTC and State Partners Sue Dollar General for Charging Consumers More than Advertised for Many Products"Federal Trade Commission · Oct. 26, 2026
- Dollar General Corporation, Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Jan. 30, 2026SEC EDGAR · March 20, 2026
- Dollar General Corporation, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 1, 2026SEC EDGAR · June 2, 2026
- Dollar General Corporation, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2026SEC EDGAR · Aug. 27, 2026
- "Attorney General James Secures $1.875 Million in Food and Goods from Dollar General for Overcharging Consumers"New York State Office of the Attorney General · Oct. 15, 2026
Rules and references
- EDGAR full-text search: Dollar General filings containing "Federal Trade Commission", Jan. 1, 2023, to Oct. 27, 2026SEC · Oct. 27, 2026
Data
- End-of-day prices for DG, SPY and QQQ (Tiingo)KeyVex · through Oct. 26, 2026
How we got these numbers
- Prices are end-of-day closes as traded, not adjusted for dividends, through Oct. 26, 2026. Daily moves are close to close. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 lines follow SPY and QQQ, also as traded, rebased to Dollar General's close at the start of the range shown. The Filings switch shows the filing markers from KeyVex's Dollar General stock page, a selection of congressional trades, insider sales, Form 144 notices, 8-Ks and lobbying filings: not every filing, and not only those tied to this story.
- "None mentions the FTC" rests on two checks. EDGAR's full-text search for "Federal Trade Commission" across Dollar General's filings from Jan. 1, 2023, to Oct. 27, 2026, returns one filing, the Oct. 26 8-K. KeyVex also read the text of the 10-K filed March 20, 2026, and the 10-Qs filed June 2 and Aug. 27, 2026, and searched each for "Federal Trade Commission", "FTC" and "Civil Investigative Demand": none appears.
- The settlements are as the complaint lists them in paragraph 83: Wisconsin $10,586 (2019), Vermont $1.75 million (2019), Wisconsin $850,000 (2023), New Jersey $1.2 million (2023), Ohio $1 million (2023), Colorado $400,000 (2025) and Pennsylvania $1.55 million (2025). They sum to $6,760,586, KeyVex's math; the complaint describes them as more than $6 million. New York's Oct. 15, 2026, settlement, $1.875 million in donated food and personal items, is from the New York attorney general's release and is not in the complaint's list; with it the total is $8,635,586. Net income of $1,512,311 thousand for the fiscal year ended Jan. 30, 2026, is from the 10-K. $8,635,586 is 0.571% of it, KeyVex's math.
- The FTC's figures (complaints, undercover purchases, inspection failure rates, the share of revenue from lower-income households) are allegations in its complaint, which is partly redacted. Dollar General has not yet filed an answer.
- The header image was generated for KeyVex by an image model. It is an illustration, not a photograph of a real Dollar General store. This is a reading of public filings and court documents, not investment advice.