A perfect storm of food-stamp cuts and low tax refunds is looming — and discount chains like Dollar General and Big Lots could feel the pain

Fri, 03/17/2023 - 16:30

Woman pushes shopping cart down bread aisle at Big Lots store — A shopper passes through the bread aisle of a Big Lots store.
Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Off-price retailers are worried that cuts to food stamps and smaller tax refunds will hurt sales.
Enhanced SNAP benefits ended in the remaining 32 states this month after three years.
Tax refunds are also likely to be smaller because of the wind-down of some expanded tax credits.

Discount chains like Dollar General and Big Lots are warning that cuts to food stamps and lower-than-usual tax refunds this year could start hurting sales.