Inflation may have dropped from its post-pandemic highs — June 2026 saw the largest monthly decline in consumer prices since the early days of Covid, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — but many Americans still feel its effects every time they shop.
That’s especially true during back to school season, when families face hundreds of dollars in expenses before the first bell rings.
This year, Walmart says it’s bringing some relief.
In July, the retail giant announced that prices on its 14 most common school supplies would drop back to 2019 levels, reviving pre-pandemic pricing as it competes for shoppers during one of the year’s busiest retail periods.
Walmart lowers prices on thousands of back-to-school items
As millions of Americans gear up for the 2026-2027 school year, Walmart is trying to help shoppers’ stretch their dollars.
The retailer says it will be dropping prices on 14 of the most popular school supplies, including spiral notebooks, crayons, glue sticks, and pink erasers, to pre-pandemic prices. Select items will start at just $0.25.
Beyond the basics, Walmart says it will be rolling back prices on 1,300 additional back-to-school items. These rollbacks include trendy options like “K-Pop Demon Hunters” merch, elevated stationary options, and backpack charms.
The savings don’t stop at supplies, either. Walmart is launching seasonal discounts on clothing, dorm essentials, immunizations and wellness screenings, and select grocery items.
“By bringing together affordability, inspiration and convenience in one destination, Walmart is doing more than helping customers shop for school—it’s helping America get ready for what’s next,” a statement from the retailer said.
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Why Walmart is bringing back 2019 prices
Walmart’s aggressive pricing strategy reflects a broader reality facing retailers: families remain willing to spend on back-to-school necessities, but they’re becoming far more deliberate about where and how they shop.
Parents plan to spend $557 per child on school essentials, according to Deloitte’s 2026 Back-to-School Survey. While that number is flat year-over-year, parents’ attitudes about the state of the economy and their approach to shopping are decidedly more negative than in 2025.
Related: Target customers lose a big perk in August
Some 57% of those surveyed say that they expect economic conditions to worsen over the next six months. As a result, they’re shopping with more intention and engaging in more value-seeking behaviors, with at least one-third adopting four or more cost-saving behaviors.
In order to afford school necessities, parents say they’re cutting back on spending in other areas (50%), delaying their shopping (August spending is expected to go up by 26%), and relying on summer savings events to save (68%).
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“Parents are still spending, but they are making clearer trade-offs: prioritizing replacement items, using digital tools to plan, and timing purchases around value moments,” Deloitte’s report read. “Retailers that can make those decisions easier, more personalized, and more rewarding have room to capture growth even in a constrained season.”
Walmart’s latest move reflects that strategy.
By restoring pre-pandemic pricing on staple school supplies while expanding discounts across clothing, groceries and dorm essentials, the retailer is emphasizing affordability at a time when many families are looking for ways to reduce back-to-school costs.
It’s a strategy that may do well with the 60% of parents who told Deloitte they plan to shop at more affordable retailers this season.
Walmart doubles-down on its value reputation
The back-to-school rollbacks also allows Walmart to reassure its traditional customer base that its push to attract wealthier shoppers hasn’t come at the expense of its longstanding focus on value.
This latest savings promotion comes as Walmart has expanded its appeal to higher-income consumers through a series of premium offerings, including an exclusive line of restaurant-quality beef and partnerships with designer brands.
The strategy has been deliberate. “About a year ago, we decided it was time to go out and start talking about the company differently,” Walmart CEO John Furner said in a June interview with Fast Company.
While attracting higher-income households, who generally have more disposable income to spend, has helped Walmart grow market share, the retailer has also worked to preserve its reputation as a value destination for its core shoppers.
Moves like this help Walmart demonstrate that its expansion into premium products isn’t replacing its core value-first identity.
By restoring pre-pandemic pricing on everyday school supplies, the retailer is reinforcing the low-price reputation that has defined the brand for decades.
