'A transparent, consistent price at the register': Maryland is the first US state to ban 'surveillance pricing' — and shocked shoppers are hoping others follow suit soon

Man in a grocery store inspecting leafy greens and holding a shopping basket.

• Maryland is introducing the Protection from Predatory Pricing Act
• It will ban surveillance pricing in grocery stores
• Some consumer rights groups think it doesn't go far enough

So-called 'surveillance pricing' in grocery stores, where the cost of items is changed dynamically based on a variety of factors and shopper data, is now widespread in the US — and the authorities in Maryland have had enough.