Your $3.99 price tag may not match what you pay at checkout; US lawmakers demand answers after investigation uncovers widespread pricing discrepancies

While the same snack may be tagged at $3.99 at the time of purchase, it will cost you $4.19 at the billing counter. The difference in price may not be very high, but when the shopper is visiting a convenience store to get his basic requirements or to fuel his vehicle, this kind of difference can make shopping a costly affair. Now, an inquiry into the pricing policy of two of the most prominent convenience store chains in America has drawn attention from Congress.

As many as five members of the US House of Representatives have called out the pricing policies of 7-Eleven and Circle K stores after an investigation by Guardian revealed the discrepancies in the pricing.

Government inspections reveal widespread pricing discrepancies

Guardian’s investigations covered inspection records and customer complaints of both companies. The findings mentioned that Circle K failed 35% of price-accuracy inspections in Florida, 62% in North Carolina, and 82% in Columbus, Ohio. On the other hand, 7-Eleven failed 47% of price-accuracy inspections in Colorado and Utah and 79% in Ontario County, New York.


In some cases, the differences were not always a few pennies. For instance, in February 2026, an inspection at 7-Eleven in Casa Grande, Arizona revealed that 12 out of 25 scanned items at checkout had higher prices compared to their shelf price. For instance, a pack of Wrigley's watermelon gum priced at $3.99 was scanned at $4.99.

Moreover, the investigations took into consideration 153 consumer complaints about both companies from 17 different states. Almost half of them were related to goods, such as food, drinks, and candy, whereas the rest of the complaints referred to the fuel prices and the pump prices exceeding the roadside sign prices.

Lawmakers call for accountability

Vermont Representative Becca Balint called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the reported practices and hold companies accountable if they deliberately mislead customers.

“It's enraging that these massive companies are now essentially forcing us to fact-check every price tag and receipt just to make sure we're not getting ripped off,” Balint said in a statement published by the Guardian on October 3.

California Representative Nanette Barragán also criticised the findings, saying: “Americans work hard to feed their families. As Trump and Republicans continue to skyrocket the cost of food and other basic necessities, businesses need to keep their prices transparent and fair.”

The companies offered different assurances but did not answer the Guardian's detailed questions. A 7-Eleven spokesperson said pricing accuracy was a priority and that the company had processes to correct discrepancies. Circle K said it was “committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations” and worked to correct unintentional pricing errors.

Why the problem may extend beyond convenience stores

The results mirror those of prior investigations into the dollar store industry in America. According to the Guardian in December 2025, Dollar General had been caught failing more than 4,300 government inspections for price accuracy in 23 states from 2022. Similarly, Family Dollar had failed more than 2,100 inspections in 20 states.

This problem is not limited to media scrutiny alone. Utah also strengthened penalties for retailers that repeatedly overcharge customers. The law, passed in April 2026, followed scrutiny of Dollar General and Family Dollar’s pricing practices.

Additionally, Dollar General agreed to pay at least $15 million to settle claims that customers had been charged more at checkout than the prices displayed on shelves. The company denied wrongdoing in the relevant cases and said it agreed to the settlement to avoid further costly litigation.

A report by National Council on Weights and Measures in 2024, referenced in the Guardian's story, revealed that convenience stores had failed 34% of price-accuracy inspections in 26 states. Dollar stores failed 29% of such inspections followed by auto parts stores at 27%.