Retail stores reeling from losing billions from theft last year are making some tough decisions that may impact consumer-shopping experiences, including a big swing in their dependence on self-checkout.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), retail theft reached $121.6 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach $150 billion by 2026. This could be one reason stores owned by Walmart, Target, and Dollar General have announced their reliance on self-checkout will shift dramatically for the rest of 2024. But few are willing to bring it up in their announcements.