Major companies like Target, Walmart now at center of FTC probe into pricing concerns

Several major companies like Target, Instacart, Walmart, United Airlines and more are being questioned by federal authorities over how they charge customers and whether those charges differ by person. Nine companies including Delta, United, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart were recently targeted by the Federal Trade Commission, which will require them to reveal how they set prices and whether algorithms or loyalty programs can change the amount a customer is charged. The companies have 45 days to respond to the order sent this week requiring them to turn over details about what kind of personal information they use to determine prices. The practice is called surveillance pricing and it s unclear if or how companies are using it. The order from the FTC could provide clarity for consumers on if they’re being charged more based on things like their internet searches, or even their enrollment in company loyalty programs. The FTC also wants to