Amazon, Target and Walmart Raised Prices in Response to Tariffs

Price Increases - Amazon has raised prices by 12.8% this year, while Target and Walmart have increased prices by 5.5% and 5.3% respectively [2] - The price increases for all three retailers are attributed to the impact of new U.S. tariffs, with Amazon's increases occurring before the tariffs were imposed, possibly due to price normalization after holiday discounts [3] Marketplace Dynamics - Amazon earns a higher percentage of its revenue from third-party sales compared to Target and Walmart, making its marketplace sellers, often small businesses, more vulnerable to tariff-related cost increases [4] - Third-party sellers lack the scale, inventory flexibility, and private-label leverage that larger retailers like Walmart and Target possess to offset costs [4] Broader Industry Trends - A report indicated that 90% of goods firms and over 70% of services firms among mid-market companies have raised prices in response to tariffs and macroeconomic pressures [5] - Some companies are absorbing most of the tariff costs due to concerns about losing market share to competitors who do not raise prices, as well as the temporary nature of the tariffs [6] - Goldman Sachs economists estimated that consumers will ultimately bear more than 50% of the total cost of U.S. tariffs, with consumers having shouldered about 22% of the cost as of mid-year [7]