Walmart Shoppers Should Expect Price Hikes Due to Tariffs

Walmart is known for their super low prices on, well, pretty much everything. So you might be a little upset to hear that their prices might be on the rise.

Due to higher tariffs on imports from China, Walmart announced that customers may expect some price hikes soon.

Walmart, along with Macy’s and other major retailers, were able to dodge the first rounds of tariffs since they focused more on industrial and agricultural products. But they can potentially be dealing with even more tariffs on imports such as furniture that will likely extend to toys, shirts, household goods and sneakers as well.

It’s unclear just how much prices could rise, but any price raise for Walmart could be detrimental for their customer base, especially since many low-income families depend on their low prices.

The higher tariffs could also potentially affect prices on national stores and brands, from Target to JC Penny and more, especially if a fourth round of tariffs takes place.

The speculation of increased pricing came after the world’s largest retailer reported its best sale performance for the first quarter in nine years.

There is some hope though—the store says that they’re currently trying to negotiate for lower prices.

“We’re monitoring the tariff discussions and are hopeful that an agreement can be reached,” said Chief Financial Officer Brett Biggs.

He also said that the company will try to limit the price increases as much as they can, for example, by trying to obtain products from different countries and working with suppliers’ “costs structures to manage higher tariffs.”

“We believe Walmart has the wherewithal both financially and via its vendor relationships to minimize the impact on both itself and its shopping base,” said Moody’s analyst Charlie O’Shea.

To learn more about what the tariffs mean for Walmart shoppers, check out the video below.

Are you a Walmart shopper? How do you feel about prices potentially increasing for a store known for its low costs?