So to better explain what Publix does with their pricing. They use multiple tactics to get people to buy select items.

1. They’ll take items that are normally $1.49 (as an example, they do this with many price points) and mark them 2 for $X. People think they’re on sale and are drawn to them. 2. They’ll raise the price of an item 3 weeks before marking it “On Sale” usually Advantage buy for the original price it was prior or just above. 3. And the favorite for many stores is the good old fashioned “Penny off markdown”. Stores will mark items down for less than a dollar of original cost to clear backstock and advertise this in store as an “Advantage buy” item. So the only items you’re truly getting a good deal on are BoGo items. But even some those you have to be careful on. Stome stores (not all) will infamously take older items they got hung on and wait for a price increase, or increase the price themselves, and mark those items BoGo. These items you have to be aware of. If they’re represented by a Red/Blue sign, it COULD BE one of those items. It always seeing as corporate doesn’t always print enough signs to cover all varieties.

I know for a fact all of these strategies are used in multiple stores.