Walmart sales miss and rising 30-year Treasury yields flash stagflation warning

On August 20, 2026, the Dow fell 0.86%, S&P 500 0.44%, and Nasdaq 0.92%. The 30-year Treasury yield climbed 3.5 basis points (a basis point is one-hundredth of a percent) to 5.244%. Walmart dropped 8.6% after missing comparable sales estimates. Together, rising borrowing costs and weakening consumer demand signal stagflation — stagnant growth plus persistent inflation — a combination worth watching.