SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                             ----------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 16, 2000


                           Dollar General Corporation
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




         Tennessee                     001-11421                61-0502302
- -------------------------------  ------------------------ ----------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
        Incorporation)                                     Identification No.)

          100 Mission Ridge
     Goodlettsville, Tennessee                         37072
- ----------------------------------------        --------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (615) 855-4000
                                                           --------------


          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





ITEM 9. FORWARD-LOOKING EXPECTATIONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 27, 2000

This  discussion  and analysis  contains  both  historical  and  forward-looking
information. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.  Although
Dollar General Corporation (the "Company")  believes the assumptions  underlying
the forward-looking  statements are reasonable,  any of the assumptions could be
inaccurate,  and therefore,  there can be no assurance that the  forward-looking
statements  will  prove  to  be  accurate.  Forward-looking  statements  may  be
significantly  impacted by certain risks and uncertainties,  including,  but not
limited to: general  transportation  and distribution  delays or  interruptions;
interruptions in suppliers' operations;  inventory risks due to shifts in market
demand;  changes in product  mix;  costs and delays  associated  with  building,
opening  and  operating  new  distribution   centers;  and  other  risk  factors
referenced in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2000
and the Company's  other  periodic  reports and filings with the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission.  The Company  undertakes no obligation to publicly release
any  revisions  to  any   forward-looking   statements  to  reflect   events  or
circumstances occurring after the date of this report.

The following  text contains  references to the third quarters of 1999 and 2000,
which  represent  fiscal periods ended or ending on October 29, 1999 and October
27, 2000 respectively.

The nature of the  Company's  business is seasonal.  Historically,  sales in the
fourth quarter have been significantly higher than sales achieved in each of the
first three quarters of the fiscal year. Thus, expenses, and to a greater extent
operating income, vary by quarter.  Results of a period shorter than a full year
may not be  indicative  of results  expected for the entire  year.

The Company  defines  same stores as those  opened  before the  beginning of the
previous fiscal year which have remained open throughout the current period.

As of the date of this filing,  management's  expectations for the third quarter
ending October 27, 2000 are as follows:

Revenues
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Total company  revenues and same-store sales are expected to increase 15-16% and
1-2%, respectively as compared with the same period in 1999.

Gross Profit
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Gross  profit as a  percentage  of net sales is  expected to be flat to slightly
higher than gross profit in the same period a year ago.

Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expense
- --------------------------------------------------
Based on sales expectations, management anticipates SG&A expense as a percentage
of net sales to increase  0.80%-1.20%  compared  SG&A expense as a percentage of
net sales in the third quarter of 1999.


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Interest Expense
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Interest  expense as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter is expected
to increase 0.10%- 0.20%,  reflecting higher interest rates than the same period
a year ago.

Provision for Taxes on Income
- -----------------------------
The tax rate is expected to be approximately 36.25%.


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
                                    (Registrant)



October 16, 2000                    By: /s/ Brian M. Burr
                                        ----------------------------
                                        Executive Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer



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