an apparatus and method for displaying the weight or cost of an uncut selected segment of an item involves passing a position indicating member over the item lying on a support surface . the position indicating member carries one or more sensors which generate signals corresponding to succeeding cross sectional contours of the item as the member is traversed along the item from a reference position to a selected other position over this item , defining the selected segment of the item . at the same time , a motion detector arrangement preferably comprised of one or more microelectromechanical accelerometer devices generates signals corresponding to motion of the position indicator support member as it is moved along the item . these signals are processed in a signal processor to determine the volume of the uncut selected segment of the item lying between selected successive positions of the indication member . each of these cumulative volume determinations are converted into numeric weight or price values based on the density factor for the particular type of item , whereby numeric weight and price values are displayed as the member is traversed along the item , thus enabling the operator to contemporaneously provide an on - looking consumer weight or price information before a particular segment is cut from the item . a visible light band is projected from the sensor bar onto a section of the item to clearly show the selected segment bounds corresponding to the numeric display to the onlooker .