Exhibit 99

Investor Contact:
Kiley Fleming
(615) 855-5525

DOLLAR GENERAL REPORTS INCREASED SALES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

GOODLETTSVILLE,  Tenn. - April 12, 2001 - Dollar General  Corporation (NYSE: DG)
today reported total retail sales for the five-week fiscal period ended April 6,
2001,  equaled  $461.3  million  compared with $384.0  million for the five-week
period ended March 31, 2000, an increase of 20.2  percent.  Due to the Company's
53-week fiscal year in 2000, the Company's  fiscal and calendar  periods in 2001
do not coincide.  For the five-week  calendar period ended April 6, 2001,  total
sales increased 19.9 percent and same-store sales increased 6.5 percent compared
with a 3.1 percent  increase in same-store  sales for the five-week period ended
April 7, 2000.

For the nine-week fiscal period ended April 6, 2001, Dollar General total retail
sales  increased  19.9  percent to $828.5  million  from $691.2  million for the
nine-week  period ended March 31, 2000. For the nine-week  calendar period ended
April 6, 2001, total sales increased 19.1 percent and same-store sales increased
5.7 percent  compared with a 5.0 percent  increase in  same-store  sales for the
nine-week  period ended April 7, 2000. The Company also announced the opening of
its seventh  distribution  center in Zanesville,  Ohio. The Ohio facility is the
Company's fifth to open in five years. The 1.2 million square foot  distribution
center will serve stores located in the Company's  northeastern markets with the
capacity to serve more than 1,000 stores.

Sales and Earnings Outlook:

For the four-week fiscal period of April ending May 4, 2001, the Company expects
total  sales to increase  19-22  percent.  For the  four-week  calendar  period,
same-store  sales are  expected to  increase  6-9  percent  compared  with a 0.8
percent decrease in same-store sales for the four-week period ended May 5, 2000.
April sales will be released on Thursday,  May 10, 2001. Weekly sales trends are
announced  on Mondays  after the market  closes  and can be  attained  online at
www.dollargeneral.com or by calling (615) 855-5529.

For the first quarter ending May 4, 2001,  total company revenues and same-store
sales are expected to increase 19-21 percent and 6-7 percent,  respectively,  as
compared with the first quarter of 2000. The Company anticipates opening 200-250
stores in the quarter.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales is expected to
decrease  0.50-0.60%  compared  with  2000,  as a result of strong  sales of low
margin, highly consumable merchandise. Management anticipates operating expenses
as a  percentage  of net sales  will  increase  0.20-0.35%  compared  with 2000,
reflecting a planned  investment in store labor and higher than expected utility
expense.  Interest  expense as a percentage of net sales is expected to increase
approximately  0.20%,  reflecting higher borrowings and higher interest rates on
longer-term financing compared with the first quarter of last year. The tax rate
is expected to be approximately 36.25%. Using this guidance,  management expects
to report  earnings per share of $0.13-0.14  for the first quarter ending May 4,
2001.

Dollar General operates more than 5,000 neighborhood stores in 25 states.

This press release  contains  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. The Company believes the
assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however,
any of the assumptions  could be inaccurate,  and therefore,  actual results may
differ  materially from those projected in the  forward-looking  statements as a
result of  certain  risks and  uncertainties,  including,  but not  limited  to,
general transportation and distribution delays or interruptions, inventory risks
due to shifts  in market  demand,  changes  in  product  mix,  interruptions  in
suppliers'  business,  fuel price and interest rate fluctuations,  and costs and
delays associated with building,  opening and operating new distribution centers
("DCs") and stores. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any
revisions to any forward-looking  statements  contained herein to reflect events
or  circumstances  occurring  after the date of this  report or to  reflect  the
occurrence of unanticipated events.

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