Walmart To Raise Prices Due to Tariffs

Prices have already increased for some goods, with more to follow this month and early this summer.

May 16, 2025

Walmart said it plans to raise prices for goods affected by tariffs as early as this month, the big box retailer said Thursday.

“The magnitude and speed at which these prices are coming to us is somewhat unprecedented in history,” Walmart Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

Walmart is the largest retailer so far that has said it will pass through rising costs to customers. It is already raising some prices as supplier costs go up—tariffs increased the price of bananas, one of the most frequently purchased items at Walmart, to 54 cents a pound, up from 50 cents, Rainey said.

“Walmart and other retailers will likely be strategic about which items to price higher so they can maintain competitive prices while keeping an eye on overall profits. In some cases, products that aren’t subject to tariffs could become more expensive, while prices on tariffed items could stay relatively steady. Walmart also will likely lean on its growing advertising business to boost profits,” wrote the WSJ.

While the United States agreed earlier this week to temporarily lower Chinese tariffs from 145% to 30% for 90 days, “Walmart executives Thursday warned that their business could suffer large disruptions if tariffs revert to higher levels. And a 30% tariff on Chinese goods would still lead to meaningful price increases for most consumers, they said.”

Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, said in April that it plans to cut costs due to tariffs. The company said “it expects it will have to take a hard look at its supply chain and rein in costs as U.S. consumers grapple with the impact of U.S. tariffs,” Reuters reported. Revenue from North America accounts for 73% of Seven & i's overall sales.

Incoming CEO Stephen Dacus noted that the biggest impact of U.S. tariffs on the company will be from consumer behavior rather than its suppliers directly. "In that environment, you need to look harder at your supply chain, you need to make sure you squeeze your costs really tightly, so you have really good control of it," he said.