Walmart Shares Fall 8% After Rare Sales Miss as Consumer Spending Slows

Walmart posted a rare comparable sales miss on August 20, 2026, sending shares down 8%. Average spending per transaction rose just 1.1% in Q2, a sharp year-over-year deceleration. The pullback aligns with long-term Treasury yields hovering near multi-year highs, which raise household borrowing costs and squeeze discretionary budgets. The 30-year yield touched 5.337% on August 18 before retreating to 5.187%.