The biggest retailer in the United States, Walmart  (WMT) , is working hard to maintain its success and win over competition. 

While larger retail chains have a stronger foundation to battle the mountain of challenges than smaller businesses, they must also act wisely to navigate the current economic climate.

With President Donald Trump’s tariffs in place, big-box stores face the harsh task of keeping items at affordable prices while still earning profit. Additionally, retailers are dealing with inflation, high labor costs, and fierce competition.

Meanwhile, consumers are focusing on finding the best value for their hard-earned money. In fact, a recent report from market research company Wunderking revealed that 58% of consumers feel “cautious, pessimistic, or panicked about the economy,” resulting in:

  • 37% of consumers seek deals more often.
  • 36% shopping less overall.

Walmart is well aware of the statistics and has already vowed to do everything it can to make its inventory affordable for consumers as possible, given the current economic challenges.

We’re keeping our prices as low as we can for as long as we can, said Walmart CEO Doug McMillon during an earnings call on August 22.

Walmart unveils its first deals event of the season with savings of up to 50%. 

Image source: Shutterstock

Walmart launches wild new deals, no membership required

Walmart shared on Sept. 23 that it will run its first deals event of the season, Walmart Deals, Oct. 7 through Oct. 12. The one-week event will feature tens of thousands of items, both online (with a variety of delivery options) and in stores across the country.

While the deals are available to all customers without Walmart Plus membership, members will have a five-hour early start advantage. This means members can start their discount shopping on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. EST instead of on Oct. 7 at 12 a.m. EST.

Related: Walmart loses $400 million from unexpected problem in stores

The savings event features a huge number of deals, with savings of up to 50% including top national and private brands and Walmart-exclusive products, across categories such as food, home, electronics, fashion, beauty, seasonal decor, and toys.

Walmart Deals includes:

Electronics

  • ASUS 16” R7 4050 16/512 Gaming Laptop: $400 savings (Walmart exclusive)
  • Proscan Elite, 14.1” Wi-Fi Digital Picture Frame: $25 savings
  • VIZIO 50″ Class Quantum 4K QLED HDR Smart TV: $100 savings

Toys

  • Hot Wheels Mario Kart Bowser’s Castle Track Set: $60 savings
  • LEGO Harry Potter Buckbeak: $24.99 savings
  • Monster High Frankie Stein Make-A-Monster Pet Doll: $20 savings
  • Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box: $60 savings

Home

  • Better Homes & Gardens Farm Apple Pumpkin Scented 1-Wick 16.1oz Ribbed Jar Candle: $7 savings (Walmart exclusive)
  • Dyson Ball Animal Origin Upright Vacuum: $80 savings
  • Lasko Oscillating 1500W Electric Motion Heat Whole Room Ceramic Heater with Remote Control: $30 savings
  • HART 215-piece Mechanics Tool Set, Chrome finish: $52 savings (Walmart exclusive)

Beauty

  • Calvin Klein Eternity, Eau de Parfum, 3.4 oz.: $55.02 savings
  • Oral-B iO Series 2 Rechargeable Electric Powered Toothbrush, Peach: $15.03 savings

Food

  • Frito Lay Flamin’ Hot Mix 6 Flavor Variety Pack 40ct: $6.73 savings
  • San Pellegrino CIAO Lime Sparkling Flavored Water: $2.88 savings
  • Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino 13.7 oz. 12ct: $30.40 savings

Walmart’s efforts to keep prices low after several setbacks

Walmart Deals comes strategically when many consumers start shopping for the holidays. However, this year’s holiday season might result in different sales numbers than last year due to the aforementioned financial turbulence and overall consumer sentiment.

Nearly half (46%) of U.S. consumers plan to spend the same amount on holiday shopping as last year; however, one in four aims to spend less, according to McKinsey’s ConsumerWise research released August 29.

According to recent data from Placer.ai, Walmart’s foot traffic in stores rose by 1% year-over-year. The retail giant is trying its best to increase, or at least keep stable, its store foot traffic, which is why it is already offering more than 6,000 rollbacks across categories such as food, tech, beauty, fashion, and more.

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Walmart knows that prices make all the difference during a period of stubborn inflation, so it is making an effort to keep customers coming back. 

In April, around the time President Trump invoked the law to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on imports from all countries not subject to other sanctions, Walmart began a concerted effort to maintain its low prices.

The retailer did so amid boycott threats from consumers over allegedly “driving up prices,” writes TheStreet’s Patricia Battle.

Moreover, in August, Walmart agreed to pay $5.6 million to settle a consumer protection dispute alleging the retailer overcharged customers by selling products and goods weighing less than what was labeled.

This was not the first time Walmart made overcharging mistakes. In 2025, another investigation confirmed that 164 Walmart stores across 30 counties had been making scanning errors.

With consumer sentiment about the economy declining and people tightening their wallets, Walmart can’t afford to make similar overcharging mistakes; instead, it needs to focus on providing better deals and more value for consumers.

Related: 55-year-old global beauty retailer closing another 30 stores