For months, Kroger had gallons of milk priced at $2.89, WalMart offered its milk for $2.99, and Publix priced theirs at $3.09.

Upon last check, however, Publix and Kroger both met at the $2.99 price point, but WalMart, which has incidentally dropped its “We Sell for Less” slogan, has taken the lead in the Murfreesboro milk price war, selling gallons for $2.79. (And Aldi very well may have that beat, but I’ve found that the time it takes to get there from our residence usually does not justify the savings. So for personal concerns, the battle comes down to the three stores mentioned).

Of course, prices have risen substantially over the past decade across the board (about a 50 percent increase over just 10 years as far as milk goes); and only 20 months ago WalMart priced milk gallons at $2.58.

It’s easy for even the thrifty consumer to say “it’s just a 10- or 20-cent difference. Big deal.” But a slight difference in milk prices could mean thousands and thousands of dollars for just one store in terms of annual profit or loss. Now, think about all of the WalMarts across the country, and all of the shoppers purchasing a gallon of milk each day, and a 10-cent increase, or drop, in the price becomes a major corporate decision. Obviously, the company wants to profit, but also it doesn’t want to price items high enough to motivate consumers to look elsewhere.

We encourage you to be mindful of your food purchases, not just to save a dime or two next week, but to let the stores know that you’re paying attention.