RETAILING

Kmart Settles Overcharging Claim: The company has agreed to pay $985,000 in civil penalties and costs to settle a consumer protection lawsuit filed by the Riverside County district attorney. The lawsuit, filed in cooperation with prosecutors in Kern and San Diego counties, said Kmart Corp. engaged in unfair competition and misleading advertising by charging customers more at the checkout register than the prices advertised for certain goods. Prosecutors said the overcharging occurred at Kmart stores in the three counties, and their claims were based on routine inspections by the California Department of Weights and Measures. Kmart did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement.