Publisher: Supermarket News
Published: August 20, 2026
Source: Read at Supermarket News (https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-technology/ftc-seeks-public-comment-on-surveillance-pricing)
Category: Food Access
The Federal Trade Commission announced it is seeking public comment on a draft enforcement policy statement about personalized pricing, which uses personal data to set prices based on what a company believes an individual will spend. The agency said businesses that do not tell consumers how their data is used to set prices may violate the FTC Act and other laws it enforces. After the statement is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 30 days to submit electronic comments. The Commission authorized the notice in a 2-0 vote, and Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut have already banned surveillance pricing in grocery stores. Maryland's rules cover stores with at least 15,000 square feet and third-party grocery delivery apps.
Why this matters: Independent grocers that use customer data to set prices may need to review how they disclose that practice. State restrictions may already affect stores and grocery delivery operations, depending on where they operate.
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