Walmart warns of a slower 2025. That’s a bad sign for America’s economy
CNN
Shoppers flooded to Walmart for groceries and clothing last year. But 2025 will be trickier for the retail giant as inflation ticks back up and Trump’s tariffs kick in.
Shoppers flooded to Walmart for groceries and clothing last year. But 2025 will be trickier for the retail giant as inflation ticks back up and Trump’s tariffs kick in. Walmart said Thursday that its sales and profit growth will slow this year. The forecast sent its stock tumbling 8% during pre-market trading. Walmart’s outlook “assumes a relatively stable macroeconomic environment” but “acknowledges that there are still uncertainties related to consumer behavior and global economic and geopolitical conditions,” Walmart finance chief John David Rainey said on a call with analysts. Walmart said sales will grow by up to 4% this year and profit will grow up to 5.5%. But that was short of investor expectations. Walmart (WMT) is the largest retailer in the United States and a bellwether for consumer spending. Its projected slowdown is a signal for the rest of the retail industry that 2025 will be a rockier year. Walmart said that consumers are still spending, but it acknowledged it will have to navigate tariffs and other economic changes.
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