Think you have to spend a lot for high quality toilet paper? Think again.

Research done by Consumer Reports in its May 2012 issue says the best toilet paper in America is a Wal-Mart private label -- White Cloud 3-ply Ultra Soft and Thick. At 25 cents per 100 sheets, White Cloud got a high score of 91 based on softness, strength, disintegration and tearing ease.

In second place, Quilted Northern Ultra Plush got a score of 81 and costs 38 cents per 100 sheets. Third place was claimed by Great Value Ultra Strong -- another Wal-Mart brand -- with a score of 77 and a price of 27 cents.

My beloved Costco brand, Kirkland Signature, checked in with a score of 69 at 12 cents, just about the cheapest brand sampled.

The three absolutely cheapest options -- Scott 1000, Walgreens Big Roll, and CVS Earth Essentials -- cost 8 cents per 100 sheets. But they all scored below 40 on the Consumer Reports tally. Ouch!