Individual price tags to disappear Jan1

BOSTON, Mass. (AP) - Food stores in Massachusetts will no longer be required to place individual price stickers on each item for sale in their shops.

A law taking effect on Jan. 1 allows shop owners to place price scanners throughout their stores. Customers can then use the scanners to determine the cost of each item.

The bill was signed by Gov. Deval Patrick earlier this year.

Store owners pushed for the new law, saying it would save them the expense of having to put stickers on everything in their shops.

But consumer advocates opposed the law. They say scanners can be unreliable, forcing consumers to play "guess the price" before heading to the checkout line.