Inflation reshapes shopping as even $100K earners feel the squeeze, says Dollar General CEO

Dollar General CEO Todd Vasos says inflation and energy costs have eroded the value of a $100,000 annual salary, with even six-figure earners feeling the squeeze; DG’s core customers (earning less than about $45,000) are changing buying patterns to shop closer to home, more frequently, and buy less per trip, while DG emphasizes its 2,000 items at $1 or less to serve a broad range of incomes. The broader retail picture shows resilience despite rising costs across housing, autos and utilities, and surveys indicate higher-income shoppers are using rewards points, BNPL and credit to cope.