If you’ve noticed your go-to items creeping up in price at Walmart, you’re not imagining it. According to multiple employees across the U.S., the retail giant is rolling out an overwhelming wave of price changes, many of them increases, just as inflation-weary shoppers are struggling to keep up.
Daily Mail reported that screenshots shared online from Walmart’s handheld inventory devices show mass repricing events. Some stores logged more than 15,000 updates in a single location.
One worker reported 4,000 changes in the clothing section alone, while another said their department has been seeing 5,000 to 9,000 per week, a 40 to 50 percent spike over normal levels.
Not every change is a hike—some are seasonal markdowns or promotions—but the sheer volume has raised concern. Many employees are sounding off on social media, saying they’re burned out by the workload and frustrated by the mixed messaging from company leadership.
The timing coincides with new tariffs on Chinese imports, which Walmart says are directly impacting costs. With more than 60 percent of its goods imported from China, the company warned during its latest earnings call that price increases were likely to follow.
Related: Walmart Employees Sound the Alarm as Prices Soar
That warning didn’t sit well, and some have suggested that Walmart and other companies eat the costs of the tariffs instead of passing them on to customers. In response, Walmart softened its tone, emphasizing its commitment to low prices. But workers and analysts say the price increases are already underway.
In one example that drew viral attention, a Walmart employee posted a photo of a Hasbro My Real Baby doll, showing a jump from $34.97 to $49.97—a 43 percent increase.
With over 4,800 U.S. locations, Walmart’s pricing strategy is closely watched by economists and competitors alike. When Walmart shifts, others tend to follow.
For now, shoppers might want to check those receipts a little more closely and prepare for a retail landscape that’s anything but stable.
Related: Walmart’s Best-Paid Hourly Job Isn’t What You Think
Shoppers Brace for Sticker Shock as Walmart Workers Warn of Massive Pricing Surge first appeared on Men’s Journal on Jun 14, 2025
