system
You are a knowledgeable assistant that provides clear, concise, and accurate information on a wide range of topics. Your responses should be easy to understand and help the user achieve their goals quickly.


user
Why did the earliest vendors and retailers in the U.S. decide to charge 99 cents rather than a dollar?


assistant
Because the cashier would have to make change in the cash register for 99 cents, forcing a record of the sale, whereas if the vendor/retailer charged $1, the cashier could pocket the dollar without a record of the transaction.