Posted: 09/03/2010
We've all seen the Wal-Mart commercials where a little smiley face rolls back the prices. But there's a new study out by JP Morgan Securities shows just the opposite is happening with some products... the prices are rolling up. In fact it shows Wal-Mart raised it prices by nearly 6% over a six week period ending in early August.
It says in one store surveyed (in Virginia) a 32 ounce bottle of Windex rose from $1.97 to $2.97, about a 50% increase. And a 50 ounce container of Tide detergent increased by almost 50%. The price for 12 ounces of Quaker Oats increased by 65%.
Wal-Mart won't comment on this new report, but analysts say its profits have stagnated and it needs to do something to help the bottom line.
Not a Wal-Mart shopper? Well, you could pay more too. History shows when Wal-Mart raises prices, other stores do too.
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