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Seattle Bans Grocery Surveillance Pricing After 23% Markups

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 2:40 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck introduced the Fair Pricing and Transparency ordinance banning grocery surveillance pricing.
Seattle would become the first U.S. city to prohibit price discrimination based on shoppers’ data.
Consumer Reports’ 2025 investigation found grocers charging up to 23% higher prices through surveillance pricing.
Instacart stopped using surveillance pricing after the Consumer Reports investigation.
Industry groups say the ban could end loyalty programs that save shoppers about $30 weekly.

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Story summary

Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck introduced the Fair Pricing and Transparency ordinance banning grocery surveillance pricing.
Seattle would become the first U.S. city to prohibit price discrimination based on shoppers’ data.
Consumer Reports’ 2025 investigation found grocers charging up to 23% higher prices through surveillance pricing.
Instacart stopped using surveillance pricing after the Consumer Reports investigation.
Industry groups say the ban could end loyalty programs that save shoppers about $30 weekly.