Walmart to start raising prices due to tariffs   

Walmart BB #:143789 said it plans to raise prices this month, including fresh produce, as it passes onto consumers cost increases due to tariffs. 

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, CFO John David Rainey said the Bentonville, AR-based retailer has already raised prices on some items affected by tariffs, including bananas, which were raised from 50 cents per pound to 54 cents per pound.

Bananas from Latin American countries are subject to a 10 percent tariff. 

“The magnitude and speed at which these prices are coming to us is somewhat unprecedented in history,” Rainey told the Journal. 

Walmart released fiscal year 2026 first quarter financial results today, which show steady growth in revenue and operating income, including 22 percent growth in e-commerce. It did not change its outlook for FY 2026.

“We delivered a solid first quarter in a dynamic operating environment,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO. “We’re serving customers and members in more ways, which is fueling our growth. We’re well positioned, maintaining flexibility to navigate the near-term while continuing to invest to create value for the long term.” 

The U.S. agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent earlier in May. Walmart imports many products from China, although very few in its grocery business.  

In its financial report, the company said U.S. comp sales were up 4.5 percent, with strong growth in health and wellness and grocery and gains in grocery market share. 

This week, the government reported the Consumer Price Index showed inflation rising 2.3 percent in April year-over-year, its lowest increase since February 2021, indicating that tariffs are not affecting the overall economy, at least through April.