Little Rock – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said Monday that the state is joining a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission and 19 other states accusing Dollar General Corporation of using deceptive pricing practices that cost consumers millions of dollars.

State action to protect shoppers

In a statement, Griffin explained that Dollar General allegedly charges customers a higher price at the register than the price advertised on shelves, price tags or promotional materials. He said the practice “takes advantage of vulnerable shoppers” and that Arkansans “shouldn’t have to pay more at the register than the price they were promised on the shelf.”

Griffin added that his office will continue “cracking down on deceptive practices that hurt Arkansas consumers,” emphasizing the administration’s commitment to honest advertising and consumer protection for families across the state.

Multi‑state lawsuit details

The complaint, filed by the FTC, lists the following states as co‑plaintiffs: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin, in addition to Arkansas.

The suit alleges that thousands of Dollar General stores have extracted unlawful overcharges from shoppers, with tens of thousands of consumer complaints nationwide indicating a pattern of charging more at the register than the advertised price. According to the complaint, the company was aware of the harm caused by these practices but failed to implement sufficient safeguards.

Impact on Arkansas families

For Arkansas families, the lawsuit represents a direct effort to safeguard household budgets from hidden price inflation. By joining the FTC action, the state aims to hold the retailer accountable and deter future deceptive conduct that could erode trust in local businesses.

Attorney General Griffin’s office has not disclosed a specific monetary target for the case, but the complaint states that the alleged overcharges amount to millions of dollars in consumer losses nationwide. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties, and a requirement that Dollar General adopt transparent pricing practices.

What comes next

The case is still developing. If the court rules in favor of the FTC and the participating states, Dollar General could face significant fines and be forced to change its pricing procedures. The outcome may also set a precedent for how retailers across the country disclose prices to shoppers.

Arkansas residents are encouraged to report any pricing discrepancies they encounter at Dollar General locations to the Attorney General’s consumer protection division.

Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.