One of the larger grocery chains in the Chicago area is starting to phase out the self-checkout lanes. The store nearest to me has already removed them.

The reason given is to be more "customer friendly", which seems to correspond to the upscale neighborhoods where the lanes are being removed and, not surprisingly, more upscale grocers are starting to move in (Roundy's/Mariano's, Whole Foods, Fresh Market).

Turns out it takes a lot of staff intervention to keep the self-checkout lines moving.