Walmart Shares Fall 8% as Shoppers Cut Back Spending

Walmart shares dropped 8% on August 20, 2026 after the retailer reported slower-than-expected sales. The average shopper spent just 1.1% more per visit than a year ago — a big slowdown. At the same time, long-term government interest rates hit multi-year highs, raising the cost of borrowing for households and leaving less room for non-essential spending.