SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets Inc. has kicked off the new year by lowering prices on 2,400 staple items.

Weis Markets Inc. has kicked off the new year by lowering prices on 2,400 staple items.

The regional supermarket retailer said the price cuts went into effect Jan. 2 and that it will freeze the prices of those products for 90 days through April 2.

According to Weis Markets, the move represents the retailer’s sixth round of its 90-day Price Freeze Program over the past two years.

"Our 90-Day Price Freeze Program continues to make sense in a slow growth economy impacted by high unemployment in most of the markets we serve," David Hepfinger, president and chief executive officer of Weis Markets, said in a statement. "It has been a great program for our customers. Over the past two years, our Price Freeze Program has helped our customers save more than $6 million and we hope to save them more money in 2011."

Weis Markets said the current Price Freeze Program includes 2,400 store-brand and brand-name products in grocery, produce, frozen, dairy, meat, deli, seafood, bakery, health, beauty care and general merchandise.

The Price Freeze Program is being promoted in Weis Markets’ current circular, television, radio and billboard advertisements. Also, in stores, customers will see Price Freeze signage and shelf tags for participating items.

Weis Markets operates 164 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.