DoorDash's Instacart deal may draw FTC scrutiny amid cost-of-living concerns

Key facts

• DoorDash's proposed $17 billion acquisition of Instacart is likely to face FTC scrutiny.
• The FTC is examining affordability issues due to persistent high costs for US consumers.
• Instacart previously ended price experiments after a study found shoppers paid different prices for the same items.
• DoorDash had 65.1% of all delivery orders in 2025, followed by Uber Eats (25.8%) and Instacart (9.1%).
• Critics argue the combined entity would consolidate alarming amounts of surveillance and pricing technology.

Food delivery company DoorDash's proposed $17 billion acquisition of grocery delivery platform Instacart is expected to draw scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has been focusing on affordability for consumers amid persistent cost-of-living concerns and has a history of examining delivery app practices. Regulators will likely compare market data, with DoorDash holding 65.1% of all delivery orders in 2025, followed by Uber Eats at 25.8% and Instacart at 9.1%, according to YipitData. Critics argue the deal would consolidate significant surveillance and pricing technology within one company.