June 18 (Reuters) – Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, agreed to pay $1.64 million to settle regulatory charges that its 64 New Jersey stores employed illegal pricing practices that made it hard for consumers to comparison-shop.
On Tuesday, New Jersey’s attorney general, Matthew Platkin, announced a settlement that includes a $1.62 million civil fine. This is the largest fine secured by the state’s Office of Weights and Measures within the Division of Consumer Affairs.
New Jersey is among nine U.S. states mandating grocery retailers to display prices in standard units like pounds and quarts.
During store inspections in early 2023, New Jersey’s attorney general found Walmart had over 2,000 incorrect measurements. These errors spanned various categories, including coffee, priced inconsistently by pound, can, or pod count.
Platkin emphasized the rising cost of grocery items. He underscored that the settlement sends a strong message against unlawful pricing practices in New Jersey. The goal is to ensure consumers can easily compare prices for better purchasing decisions.
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 enable customers to comparison shop.”
Walmart also agreed to improve employee training and randomly screen items to ensure it displays proper measurements.
By holding Walmart accountable for its pricing practices, authorities aim to safeguard consumer rights and promote fair business practices in the retail sector.
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