Walmart was known for its low prices for years. But now some people aren’t sure if the chain still offers the deals it used to.
For example, a shopper compared a Walmart grocery bill from 2022 with a bill from this year. While a month of groceries would have cost the shopper about $126 in 2022, purchasing the same amount of groceries this year would cost them over $400.
Then another shopper noted how much the price of ground beef had increased since her time at the store, claiming the price had doubled in just a few years.
Now another TikTok user has complicated this idea by claiming that Walmart will introduce price spikes in its stores.
Will Walmart really raise prices?
In a video with over 332,000 views, TikTok user Josh Rhoads (@josh.rhoads.alt) says, “If you’re a frequent Walmart shopper and haven’t heard, they plan to implement marked-up price tags by (2026).” While Rhoads says 2025 in the video, he corrects himself to 2026 in the caption.
“Be prepared for there never to be a single price again,” he concludes. “It’s going to be really fun.”
So is it true that Walmart will be raising prices? According to the company, the answer is no—but things get a little more complicated.
For context, surge pricing refers to the idea that a business will raise prices when there is high demand for a product or service. This is visible to most consumers on ride-sharing apps, where prices can fluctuate depending on the number of vehicles available in their area.
The idea that Walmart plans to introduce price increases comes from the planned removal of sticker labels on shelves through “Digital Shelf Labels” or DSLs by 2026, per AssetsAccording to the company, this would allow the chain to quickly adjust prices instead of having to walk through the aisles and re-label each item individually.
When many saw this, they accused the store of introducing some kind of price increase. As AssetsWalmart has denied such allegations, with Walmart spokeswoman Cristina Rodrigues telling Retail Brew that the “DSL program is not designed for dynamic pricing.”
In short, the DSL program would theoretically make it easier for Walmart to practice surge pricing, but the company says it has no plans to do so.
@josh.rhoads.alt 2026* my B
♬ Original sound – josh.rhoads.alt
In the comments section, users responded to Rhoads’ claims about Walmart’s adoption of dynamic pricing.
“I don’t shop anywhere where there are price spikes,” said one user.
“If they do, I’ll 100% do my own surge pricing and decide if I pay for it or just accept it,” added another.
“This has encouraged me to look for farmers markets near me, so thank you,” explained a third.
The Daily Dot contacted Walmart through its media relations contact form and Rhoads through an Instagram DM and TikTok comment.
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