Wal-Mart gets into the Yule spirit early

Months before Christmas, Wal-Mart is putting a jingle in shoppers' pockets.

The world's largest retailer has sliced rices on 15,000 more items, luring customers into getting an early start on the shopping season, the time when merchants need to make green or face icy profits. The latest discounts follow price cuts on hot holiday toys. In fact, Wal-Mart has slashed prices on 20 percent more items than at this time last year.

Even Santa wasn't surprised at the winter holidays are shaping up to be a real retail slugfest. Mittens off! Start making your lists and checking them twice.

Here are some of the lower prices you'll see on Wal-Mart shelves:

Assorted "Be Bratz" Dolls, marked down from $29.94 to $19.93
• Fisher Price Smart Cycle, from $99.88 to $89.88
• Havoc Heli, from $29.97 to $24.74
• Hershey’s Baking Pieces (8-12 oz.), two for $3
• Hanes Ladies Fleece Crew top or pants, $5 each
• Hanes Boys and Girls top or pants, two for for $9
• Black & Decker 12 Cup Digital Coffee Maker, from $29.92 to $24.96