Given that most stores weren’t printing final price pre-internet, I highly doubt this is the reason. Though I do recall some really small convenience stores not getting the memo, but amongst them it isn’t/wasnt common
If displaying post tax prices is not required by law, then it is usually a competitive disadvantage.
People will see the post tax price, compare it in their head with the pre-tax price they saw at some other store, and feel like the post tax prices store is more expensive even if this store’s final price is actually slightly lower than the other store’s price.
People will see the post tax price, compare it in their head with the pre-tax price they saw at some other store, and feel like the post tax prices store is more expensive even if this store’s final price is actually slightly lower than the other store’s price.