In the News

On any given day, Groundwork's analyses, op-eds, reports, and commentary are featured in leading publications and on the most influential news programs and podcasts.

Press Release

Statement From Groundwork’s Lindsay Owens on FTC’s Personalized Pricing Inquiry

Today, Lindsay Owens – President and CEO of the economic think tank Groundwork Collaborative and author of the new book, Gouged: The End of a Fair Price–and What That Means for Your Wallet – released the following statement in reaction to the news that the FTC is ordering nine companies (Delta, United, JetBlue, Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart) to provide information on their use of personal data to set prices and compensation.

October 28, 2026 Groundwork Collaborative
Press Release

Fed Faced with Trump’s Price Hikes, Shrinking Paychecks at Last Meeting Before Midterms

Central bank holds rates while Americans head to the polls amidst painful price hikes at the gas pump and the grocery store.

October 28, 2026 Groundwork Collaborative
Mention

Walmart, Best Buy and other stores now use digital price tags. Critics say they could lead to different prices for different shoppers.

This idea that we could be eliminating the price tag altogether in part because price variation is going to be so institutionalized is really worrying," said Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive think tank that has criticized companies' use of dynamic pricing. The traditional price tag "offers stability, which is so important for budgeting. It offers transparency, which is so important for comparison shopping, which isn't just important for the budget shopper, it's how the entire economy is kept competitive."

October 23, 2026 MarketWatch
Mention

Democrats gear up for offensive against Trump’s Treasury.

Emily DiVito — a senior adviser for economic policy at Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive think tank that consults with lawmakers — said that it was important to investigate an exhaustive list of activities within the Treasury Department to root out potential misconduct.

October 22, 2026 Politico
Mention

Should you trust personal AI agents with your money and data? Here’s what experts say.

For example, it may be hard to know whether your AI agent is working for you or a retailer, Lindsay Owens, a consumer protection expert, told CBS News.

October 21, 2026 CBS News
Mention

How Corporations Trick You Into Paying More.

Lindsay Owens believes that corporate profiteering has been turbocharged by technology, and she wants the government to fix it. She does not want rideshare apps to spike fares when your phone battery is low.

October 21, 2026 Washingtonian
Mention

Your shopping data could alter costs; Author shares tips to avoid paying more.

"Pricing has changed in our economy and in our country," said Lindsay Owens, author of "Gouged: The End of a Fair Price - and What That Means for Your Wallet." "It used to be simple. How much does it cost to make the item, what's the profit margin and put a sticker on it.

October 20, 2026 USA Today
Mention

So you say you hate ‘surveillance pricing’.

Lindsey Owens, the CEO of progressive economic think tank Groundwork Collaborative, gained traction for her warnings about the opaque ways corporations use customers’ personal data to rip them off.

October 20, 2026 CNN
Mention

Halloween candy costs surge as Americans increasingly take on debt to cover purchases.

A new economic analysis by progressive economic policy think tanks Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (TCF), shared first with Scripps News, shows candy prices are up an average of 15% from last year, four times overall inflation.

October 20, 2026 Scripps News
Mention

Who Is Your AI Shopping Agent Working For?

David Sirota talks with Lindsay Owens, president and CEO of Groundwork Collaborative and author of Gouged: The End of a Fair Price and What That Means for Your Wallet , about how companies use your data to decide what you pay.

October 20, 2026 The Lever
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