Target announced Tuesday that it will offer its holiday price-match policy year-round. The policy matches select online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart.com, Bestbuy.com, Toyrus.com and Babiesrus.com. Target stores will also match prices at Target.com.

The policy, which takes immediate effect, expands on Target's previous price-match policy, which included price adjustments and ad matches. The policy works on items to be purchased at the register and previous purchases made within seven days. For example, if a consumer purchases an item at a Target store and then finds the identical item for less on Target.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Bestbuy.com, Toysrus.com or a local competitor's printed ad within one week, Target will match the price.

The price-match savings, while not usually significant, can add up, according to William Blair & Co., a financial services firm in Chicago. In its survey, it found Target's prices are about 14 percent higher than Amazon's. While Target's customers pay sales tax and Amazon's don't, Target's Redcard customers receive an additional 5 percent discount on each purchase.

Despite the savings, experts generally expect few consumers to take advantage of the price-match policies.