Who isn't looking to save at the supermarket?

The little unit-pricing label ought to be your best friend. Good ones make it easy to compare prices.

Unfortunately, unit pricing isn't universal.

"Most states don't require unit pricing," said Tobie Stanger from Consumer Reports. "And in those states that do, the labels can vary radically.That can make it difficult to compare prices."

Consumer Reports sent shoppers across the country to assess unit-pricing labels. They found plenty of problems. 

"This mishmash of labeling is hurting consumers," said Stanger. "There should be a law that requires a universal standardized unit-pricing label."

Right now only nine states require mandatory unit pricing.* But even in states where unit pricing is required, enforcement can be spotty.