Walmart says it plans to raise prices despite lower U.S. tariffs

Megan Cerullo

Thu, May 15, 2025, 7:06 AM 2 min read

Walmart connected Thursday warned that adjacent softer tariffs connected China could soon unit the institution to rise prices connected definite items.

The world's largest retailer said President Trump's wide-ranging levies connected U.S. commercialized partners are impeding its quality to support prices low.

"We tin power what we tin control," Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said during an net telephone connected Thursday. "Even astatine the reduced levels, the higher tariffs volition effect successful higher prices," helium added.

The terms hikes volition spell into effect aboriginal this month.

"The merchandise that we import comes from each implicit the satellite from dozens of countries," McMillon said. "Other than the U.S., the different ample markets are China, Mexico, Vietnam, India and Canada. China, successful particular, represents a batch of measurement successful definite categories similar electronics and toys. All of the tariffs make outgo unit for us, but the larger tariffs connected China person the biggest impact. The outgo unit from each the tariff impacted markets started successful precocious April, and it accelerated successful May."

Still, the Walmart enforcement emphasized that the retailer volition bash what it tin to avoid passing the import taxes onto customers.

"We'll bash our champion connected what we tin power successful bid to support nutrient prices arsenic debased arsenic possible," McMillon said. "In immoderate cases we are holding retail prices wherever they are contempt the tariffs outgo pressures."

Grocery prices dropped somewhat past month, declining 0.1% from March, according to authorities data. However, galore household costs stay elevated, arsenic the CBS News terms tracker shows.

Walmart besides pulled its quarterly nett outlook amid planetary economical uncertainty, arsenic Mr. Trump vows to onslaught favorable commercialized deals with countries that are taxable to steep levies connected imports.

Walmart earned $4.4 cardinal successful the 4th ended April 30, down from $5.1 cardinal successful the year-ago period. Revenue roseate 2.5% to $165.6 billion, conscionable abbreviated of expert estimates.

Sneak peek: Fatal First Date

Trump teases "good news" connected Russia-Ukraine war

Oprah's Book Club prime Ocean Vuong reads "The Emperor of Gladness" excerpt