By Jonathan Stempel
(Reuters) – Walmart (NYSE:), the world's largest retailer, agreed to pay $1.64 million to resolve regulatory charges that its 64 New Jersey stores employed illegal pricing practices that made it difficult for consumers to compare prices. .
Matthew Platkin, New Jersey's attorney general, said Tuesday that the settlement includes a $1.62 million civil penalty and is the largest obtained by the state Division of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of Weights and Measures.
New Jersey is one of nine U.S. states that requires grocery retailers to display prices using standard, easy-to-understand measurements, such as pounds and quarters.
Platkin said inspections of Walmart stores in the first quarter of 2023 found more than 2,000 incorrect measurements, sometimes in the same category: The price of coffee, for example, could be per pound, can or number of pods.
“As the price of grocery items continues to rise,” Platkin said, “this settlement sends a clear message that New Jersey will not allow retailers to engage in illegal pricing practices that deny shoppers the ability to compare prices to determine which product is best. a better purchase.”
Walmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer did not admit wrongdoing, but in a consent order said it “takes seriously its obligations to provide accurate unit prices to allow customers to compare prices.”
Walmart also agreed to improve employee training and randomly examine items to ensure they show proper measurements.
“We believe a settlement is in the best interest of everyone involved,” Walmart said in a statement. “We will always work to offer our customers everyday low prices they can trust.”
In November, discount retailer Dollar General (NYSE:) agreed to pay $1.2 million, including a $1.18 million fine, to resolve New Jersey allegations that it scanned for higher prices at checkout than the ones he posted on merchandise displays thousands of times.
That settlement had been the largest obtained by the state's Office of Weights and Measures.
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