X12 879 — Price Information

The 879 transmits a price update — wholesale, retail, promotional — from a manufacturer to retailers, with effective dates and restrictions.

Purpose

The 879 documents a targeted price change: new wholesale, new suggested retail (MSRP), temporary promotional price (TPR), allowances. It targets granular changes without emitting a 832 (full catalog).

It is used for intermediate pricing cycles (monthly, weekly). Acknowledged by 997. Lighter than the 832 but often used as a complement.

Envelope structure

The 879 travels within the three X12 envelope levels (ISA/IEA, GS/GE with functional group PI, and ST/SE). Didactic example in release 004010:

ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*MFR           *ZZ*RETAILER      *260515*1000*U*00401*000000879*0*P*>~
GS*PI*MFR*RETAILER*20260515*1000*1*X*004010~
ST*879*0001~
BCH*00*PI-2026-3300*20260515~
N1*MF*ACME FOODS INC*92*MFR-001~
LX*1~
LIN*1*UP*012345678905~
CTP*WS**3.75~
CTP*RS**5.99~
DTM*090*20260601~
SE*9*0001~
GE*1*1~
IEA*1*000000879~

Common segments

• Header — ST, BCH (Beginning Segment for Catalog or Price Change).
• Manufacturer — N1*MF.
• Item / price — LX loop: LIN*UP, CTP*WS (Wholesale), CTP*RS (Retail Suggested), DTM*090 (effective).
• Summary — SE.

Common pitfalls

• Currency: a 879 without explicit currency defaults to USD; bad for CA / MX partners who see wrong prices.
• MAP (Minimum Advertised Price): a MAP must transit in a distinct CTP with a dedicated qualifier, otherwise the retailer confuses it with MSRP and risks an FTC violation.
• Effective date lag: a retailer pricing system needs 24-48 h lag; a same-day-effective 879 races the rate plans.

Related transactions

• 832
• 878
• 888
• X12 — Hub

Documentation

The code 879 and the name Price Information are public and listed on x12.org/products/transaction-sets. The complete structure of loops, qualifiers and code lists is distributed by DISA via the proprietary Implementation Guides (TR3). ediverse.io covers only public concepts, the envelope and didactic examples.