In a period marked by tariffs, even small price changes can make headlines, often leading to tariffs being blamed for any increases. Recently, Mashable verified a false claim about Microsoft raising prices on some Surface laptops. Now, Walmart is under scrutiny.
On April 30, Reuters reported that Walmart reinstated a $6.99 fee for online grocery delivery and pickup orders below $35 for participants in the Walmart+ Assist program. This program allows users of food stamps, EBT cards, or Medicaid to join Walmart+ at a 50 percent reduced price ($49 annually instead of $98). During the COVID crisis, Walmart removed the basket fee for small orders by Walmart+ Assist members, but reinstated it in April.
The Daily Mail had suggested that “new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump” were responsible for the change. However, Walmart clarified that tariffs are not to blame. A company spokesperson informed Mashable that the basket fee is unrelated to tariffs and is standard for online grocery orders, not affecting in-store purchases.
Walmart operates 4,605 stores in the United States, serving many communities with affordable groceries and necessities. According to Numerator, 94 percent of SNAP shoppers have purchased groceries at Walmart in the past year, making it the most popular grocery store among food stamp recipients.
While U.S. households consume imported goods affected by new global tariffs from the Trump administration, large companies like Walmart are better equipped to manage price increases than smaller businesses. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon reassured investors of this during a February earnings call. The company also announced a new initiative, “Grow With Us,” to increase the availability of American-made products on its shelves.