Walmart shoppers avoid inflation | Fox Business

For Walmart, largest retailer in the country, inflation has become business driver.

CEO Doug McMillon explained that with consumer inflation hitting 40, most shoppers — rich or poor — will be looking for the best prices.

meNFLATION Cuts Many Americans’ Salaries

“During periods of inflation like this, middle-income families, lower-middle-income families, and even the wealthiest families become more price sensitive. That’s in our best interest,” McMillon said during the company’s earnings call on Thursday.

“We’ve been through this before. And we’re dealing with inflation all over the world all the time. Inflation is a different environment in the US now than it was certainly recently, but we’re dealing with inflation in South America and Mexico and elsewhere.”

In January, consumer prices rose 7.5%, the highest level since 1982, and producer prices rose 9.6%, the highest level ever.

Walmart managed to beat the higher prices, which helped the retailer report solid earnings. Total revenue for the year was $572.8 billion, an increase of 2.4%. US department store sales rose 6.4% over the same period.

Transactions were up 3.1% in the quarter, while the average ticket was up 2.4%. The company does not disclose the average spend per customer.

Not only does Walmart handle inflation internally, but that his team has been able to “roll back” prices, said John Woerner, Walmart US President and CEO.

“We also see an opportunity to increase some of the declines in the stores. And we are really proud of the team. We are now seeing the same number of declines now that we had at the end of the first quarter of last year,” said Woerner, noting that consumer electronics and dry groceries prices were areas in stores Selected are in decline.

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Walmart and Sam’s Club operates 5,342 stores in the United States

Walmart shares are down 4.6% year-to-date as of Friday, less than the S&P 500’s 8.8% decline.