Why do we still in this modern age post 9/10th's of a cent for gas?

Question

289.9? Why? Can't we just go ahead and round it up and get it over with once and for all?

Who in the heck cares anymore?

What must we, the public do, to get rid of this nuisance!

Answer 1

Who cares. I personally have more important things to worry about.

Answer 2

It is a psychological ploy that probably is a legacy from the era of the Great Depression. I would warrant that any modern study on the psychological processes involved in this 10th of a penny price reduction would support the null hypothesis that the difference between $2.899 and $2.900 would not effect customer purchase amounts or choice.

What can you do to get rid of it? Probably nothing. I mean you could go on protest marches, cause a public stir, etc...maybe get noticed by some local media source and more than likely be viewed as a crackpot than anything else. It might be easier to just come to terms with the fact it is lame and part of our culutre.

Answer 3

Truth in advertising.

Answer 4

I have researched this, the Federal tax was 11.9 cents a gallon in 1972.  We actually had gas pumps that would read the 9 tenths.  Consumer research also added to the problem by convincing people that 99 cents was a lot less that a dollar.  Everything advertised became xx.99.  The gas pumps round up to the nearest penny.  weather it is a tenth of a cent or 9tenths of a cent it rounds up.... The gas companies keep the tenths.  Our money system isn't set up to give it back.

Answer 5

I didn't know "we" did it. The gasoline retailers do.