It does look like Dollar Tree is the better bargain of the three...stock price wise. You have a point on the higher gas prices affecting Big Lots and Family Dollar more. I like getting Teddy Grahams at Big Lots because they charge half the price of the grocers....$1.49 to their $2.79 or higher. Dollar Tree's selection of certain items are a bit sucky, for example, I wouldn't buy the cereal...but they have a good overall selection for a lot of other items.
Heh...our chatting about Dollar Tree has bought more action to this board than as of late.