why do gas prices have 9 in the 1000th place in cents?

Answer 1

Many years ago when wages were very low and gasoline was 10 cents a gallon, a person buying ten gallons of gas saved a penny. In those days, a penny went a long way. I'm 63 years old and can remember penny post cards and 3 cent stamps. When I was in grade school, I bought a lot of penny candy and bubble gum. J.C.Penney is responsible for items ending in a nine. His thoery is that if you would normally sell an item for a dollar, the clerk could slip the dollar in his pocket and not put it in the register. If the item was only 99 cents, then the clerk must open the register to get change, in turn reducing employee theft. The nine ending on a price tends to be a magic number for any retailer or gasoline dealer. People think they're saving a lot of money when gas is 2.249 rather than 2.25 per gallon. It's all a big joke, What can you buy for a penny today? If you put ten gallons of gasoline a week in you car, you save only $0.52 cents a year which at today's prices buys very little. It's time for the point 9 cents a gallon to go.

Answer 2

Because they make more money that money. If they put in a one in there, they'd make less per gallon. If they didn't put anything in that spot at all, they wouldn't make any extra money. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but it adds up especially if a lot of people frequent the gas station. Cents add up to dollars...

Answer 3

That is there way of charging you another penny for you gas say it read 2.09 9/10 you are realy paying 2.10 per gallon

Answer 4

cause gas companies get you to pay an extra .9 cents per gallon and it looks cheaper... 2.559 looks cheaper than 2.56

Answer 5

I'd say they started doing it to make it appear to be cheaper than it is, e.g. 2.199 instead of 2.20 and then it stuck, but that's only my speculation.

Answer 6

Just another way to rip you off.

Answer 7

because they will round up to gain more money without making it seem that you are paying that much...