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Groceries · Explainer

The shelf tag most shoppers skip, and why it matters more as packages shrink

Unit pricing makes it possible to compare products across sizes. Its usefulness depends on reading it the same way every time.

By Eleanor Marsh

Published

4 min read

A supermarket shelf of canned goods with small price tags along the edge.
Shelf tags typically pair the retail price with a smaller unit price.

Unit prices express cost per ounce, count or sheet. Comparing in consistent units is the simplest defense against package-size changes.

Unit pricing makes it possible to compare products across sizes. Its usefulness depends on reading it the same way every time.

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About the author

Eleanor Marsh · Household Finance Writer

Eleanor Marsh writes about household budgets, consumer prices and savings, with a focus on the documents readers receive and the decisions those documents prompt.