FTC EASES UP ON FOOD STORES

Grocery stores may offer rain checks or substitutes when they run out of advertised specials or may specify beforehand that availability is limited, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says. The new rule will take effect this Friday, and amends a 1971 regulation that required grocers to stock enough advertised items to meet anticipated demand.

The FTC determined that the cost of compliance with its earlier rule outweighed the benefits. The rule imposed an estimated $132 million to $370 million in costs on retail food stores - and their customers.