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It's a tale of two consumers this holiday season — and they're both at Walmart
Walmart's wealthier shoppers increase spending amid lower-income customers cutting back, prompting store renovations and upscale product additions, CFO said last month.
- This month, Walmart, the country's largest retailer, said it is gaining market share with upper-income shoppers while lower- and middle-income customers cut discretionary spending.
- Slowing wage growth and persistent price pressures have left lower‑ and middle‑income customers struggling as inflation rises and ADP reported 120,000 job losses.
- To attract wealthier customers, Walmart is renovating more than 1,400 stores and adding upscale products, with Peyton Riley and Mary Izzo citing revamped layouts and specialty items like Olipop.
- Rising use of financing tools signals many shoppers plan buy-now-pay-later, with BNPL topping $1 billion on Cyber Monday and some financing holiday purchases, raising debt concerns through 2026.
- Observers call the pattern a K‑shaped recovery, noting experts say upper‑end gains contrast with stagnation as Dollar Tree and Dollar General report wealthier shoppers, while the National Retail Federation expects holiday sales to top $1 trillion this year.
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24 Articles
24 Articles
Telemundo Area de la Bahía 48+16 Reposted by 16 other sources
Eileen Gowlak, an 86-year-old retired woman, used to buy her clothes at Walmart when the retailer had big deals. But those days are over. “I noticed that the clothes went up in price and they don’t have the deals they used to have anymore,” Gowlak said outside a store in North Bergen, New Jersey, in November. Outside Walmart’s price range, Gowlak is simply not buying new clothes at the moment. He’s prioritizing food and isn’t the only one. “It’s…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Left
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources lean Left
100% Left
L 100%
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