Why are Weights and Measures Important for Consumers?

Whether they are buying groceries, motor vehicle fuel, or any other number of products, Wisconsin consumers rely on accurate weights and measures every single day. DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and municipal Weights and Measures programs across Wisconsin are hard at work throughout the year ensuring consumers receive the full value of their purchases.

In 2024, Weights and Measures staff:

· Conducted 213,497 inspections at 6,090 business locations in Wisconsin.

· Tested or calibrated 15,309 physical standards.

· Issued 5,107 orders to businesses related to inaccurate measurements and prices.

o …then conducted 739 re-inspections to verify that corrections were made.

But how does this apply to the average consumer’s life? Here are just a few examples:

· Vehicle scales are used to weigh products like gravel, stone, soil, and fertilizer for landscaping and gardening, among other goods. They first weigh the empty truck, then load the truck and weigh it again to determine how much to charge for the priced-by-weight product. Out of 3,039 licensed vehicle scales in Wisconsin, DATCP inspected 553 in 2024.

· Electronic price scanners at grocery stores are inspected regularly to make sure they give accurate prices at checkout. In 2024, the Bureau conducted 36,000 of these inspections! Only 1.4% of inspections found pricing errors, resulting in a 98.6% Consumer Confidence rating.

· Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) meters measure and dispense LPG fuel for use in appliances like gas grills and portable heaters. In 2024, 1,359 LPG meter operators were licensed by DATCP and 531 of the meters were inspected, resulting in a 91.7% Consumer Confidence rating.

Other Consumer Confidence ratings:

· Labeling of packaged products sold by weight (like sugar and vegetables): 97.5% accurate.

· Scales used to sell products by weight (like deli food or precious metals): 99.6% accurate.

· Motor vehicle fuel pumps: 99.6% accurate.

Regular weights and measures inspections and calibrations ensure accuracy in the marketplace. When Wisconsin consumers make purchases ranging from a gallon of fuel to meat for dinner or even precious metals like gold, they can trust they are being charged fairly thanks to the work of Wisconsin’s weights and measures programs and staff. To file a weights and measures complaint, email DatcpWMcomplaints@wisconsin.gov or call 608-224-4942, Option 1.