Dollar stores help shoppers stretch for deals

But it won't buy motor oil. Or a multipack of Tic Tacs. Or many other items that were once a steal for a single dollar.

Tough economic times have meant a boom in business for many dollar retailers as shoppers hunt for bargains. Most have seen their traffic and sales grow. But the rising cost for goods has some companies examining their offerings more closely.

When oil prices began to tick up a few years ago, several dollar store chains phased motor oil out of their mix. When the cost of Tic Tacs went up last year, Dollar Tree switched to a generic brand so it could continue its four-pack deal. And in September, 99 Cents Only Stores said commodity and fuel prices were forcing it to raise its price for the first time in 26 years, to 99.99 cents--which rounds up to $1 at the register.

Analysts say the dollar represents an accessible, and sometimes disposable, price for shoppers.

"The dollar today is what the penny was to the grandparent's generation," said Marshal Cohen, an analyst for the research firm NPD Group. "When you can get something for a dollar and it works, people get excited."

A bevy of stores are trying to cash in on that, even though many "dollar" stores sell items for a few bucks as well. Family Dollar Stores, for example, says just about 31 percent of the thousands of items in its stores these days are priced at a dollar or less.

McDonald's has a dollar menu that figures heavily in its advertising. Target had a "one spot" fixture for several years, where items sold for a dollar or under, before it was expanded in 2006 to include a larger array of items and pricing.

"It's a treasure hunt," said Target spokesman Josh Thomas.

And in some cases, it's necessity.