Patent US 4,872,113

A system for interrelating scanner data from a supermarket checkout counter with demographic and/or economic data concerning individual customers to generate a demographic and economic analysis of sales with respect to specific supermarket items. Each customer who wishes to have check cashing privileges at the supermarket provides the supermarket with certain demographic and/or economic data and is assigned a check cashing code. Whenever that individual wishes to pay for groceries by check, the cashier at the checkout counter enters the individual's code into the cash register and the number is stored in a computer. The computer keeps track of all items purchased by the individual, preferably by the entry of item data through a bar code scanner at the checkout counter. In return for free or low cost check cashing service, the supermarket provides the accumulated item data and corresponding check cashing codes to the check cashing company, who then via computer is able to interrelate the demographic and/or economic information concerning individuals with the specific products being sold to those individuals, and provide appropriate marketing reports to manufacturers.