Walmart dropped prices on thousands of products last week, covering groceries, household goods, and seasonal summer items available in stores, Sam's Club locations, and across the company's apps and websites.
The cuts went into effect before Monday's announcement, according to a Walmart spokesperson. Items included beef, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lay's chips, ice cream, paper plates, laundry detergent, sunscreen, grills, and lawn mowers.
Some of the reductions were steep. A 24-pack of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar dropped from $14.97 to $9.97, a 33 percent cut. Fresh sweet corn on the cob fell from 68 cents to 25 cents each, a 63 percent reduction. Fresh red cherries dropped 50 percent, from $11.18 to $5.63 for a 2.25-pound bag. A one-pound roll of 73% ground beef went from $6.74 to $5.94.
Other cuts were more modest. Great Value ice cream, Lay's Classic Potato Chips, and a Frito-Lay variety pack each saw reductions in the 10 to 16 percent range. Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Diet Mountain Dew 24-packs fell from $13.97 to $9.97, a 29 percent drop.
President Trump claimed credit for the move in a social media post Monday. "I have just been informed that one of the biggest, best, and smartest Retailers in America, Walmart, will be lowering prices, by a lot, at my Administration's request to celebrate our great Country's 250th birthday," he wrote. Walmart declined to comment on the post. Its own announcement made no mention of the president.
Vital Knowledge analyst Adam Crisafulli noted in a report cited by CBS News that the announcement represents a continuation of Walmart's existing strategy rather than a departure from it. "It's a win/win for both sides — Trump needs to improve his messaging around affordability ahead of the midterms, and Walmart loves to occupy the low-price spotlight," Crisafulli wrote.
Trump has faced Democratic criticism for failing to reduce the cost of living despite campaign pledges to drive down inflation. The Consumer Price Index in May reached its highest level in more than three years, driven by energy prices connected to the Iran war.
The price reductions apply to both in-store and online purchases across Walmart and Sam's Club platforms.
