A Snapshot of the Economy Dollar General is the nation’s 16th largest retailer, and it has a loyal customer base on par with Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST). The report is in line with recent economic data that shows consumers are pulling back on discretionary spending as food inflation remains entrenched. And that means that when Dollar General shows weakness in discretionary areas like apparel and seasonal items, it may be more relevant to, at least, the short-term direction of the economy.