BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 7 (DC Times Online) — Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is rolling out summer price cuts across thousands of products nationwide, a move that gives shoppers cheaper cookout and household staples while also highlighting the pressure retailers face to defend sales without giving up too much margin.
The company said the markdowns cover groceries, household essentials, outdoor living items, toys and apparel, and are meant to help customers save for backyard barbecues, vacations and weekly grocery trips. Walmart highlighted fresh sweet corn at 25 cents each, down from 68 cents, fresh red cherries at $5.63 from $11.18 and a one-pound 73% ground beef roll at $5.94 from $6.74. The retailer also pointed to discounts on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo products, Great Value ice cream, Lay’s chips and disposable paper plates.
President Donald Trump tried to attach the rollout to his own political message, posting on Truth Social that Walmart was lowering prices “at my Administration’s request” to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. He also said ground beef would fall “by almost 15%.” Walmart’s posted figures imply a decline of about 12% on the 73% ground beef roll, and the company did not say in its release that the White House had asked for the cuts.
Sam’s Club, Walmart’s membership warehouse chain, said it is lowering prices on more than 250 items, including Member’s Mark 88/12 ground beef at $5.97 a pound, down from $6.17, according to Reuters. Fox Business reported additional club discounts on bone-in chicken wings and beef hot dogs. The scale of the cuts suggests Walmart is leaning on summer staples to keep traffic moving through both parts of its business, even as lower shelf prices can weigh on margins if sales volume does not make up the difference. Julie Barber, Walmart U.S. chief merchant, said the company had made “investments in price” and was helping customers save “for every occasion.”
