Minimum Markup Reminder

Yes, it costs us all.

Wal-Mart ran full-page ads in metro daily newspapers Wednesday promoting its prices for Thanksgiving dinner items: a meal for a family of eight for less than $20.

The Wisconsin version of the ad, when compared with other states, made clear the impact to consumers of the state’s Unfair Sales Act, known informally as the minimum markup law: In Wisconsin, thanks to the law, you don’t get dessert.

The ad in the Journal Sentinel offered frozen whole turkeys for 86 cents a pound.

The same ad in the Chicago Tribune had turkeys for 40 cents a pound.

Ocean Spray cranberry sauce and Heinz turkey gravy are priced the same in Illinois and Wisconsin. But at 65 cents, Green Giant canned vegetables cost 6 cents more here. Stove Top stuffing is $1.15 a box at Wisconsin Wal-Marts compared with 78 cents in Illinois.

The difference in pricing made it possible for Wal-Mart to include potatoes and a $5.50 pumpkin roll cake on the $20 menu in states without a ban on selling below cost.