Viral Video Shows Altered Price Tags Across US Stores, Trump’s Tariffs Blamed for Retail Price Hikes

• Viral video claims US retailers remove old price tags to hide price hikes following Trump’s August 6 tariff announcement.

• Content creator Mercedes Chandler highlights $1 to $8 increases on clothes, backpacks and children’s wear in Walmart and Target stores.

• Retail employees confirm being instructed to peel old tags, sparking debate over transparency as Trump denies tariffs cause higher prices.

A video has been doing rounds on the social media showing the impact of tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on imported goods from several countries, including India. While many agreed that "Americans are facing price hikes for Trump's decision," others refused to believe the Instagram post, according to Mint.

Shot in a US clothing store, the viral video reportedly showed prices of several products spiked after the announcement of Trump's tariffs on August 6. The video maker showed that new price tags were attached to clothes across the store.

However, one could find the old tag and compare how prices have risen. Price increase is Real According to Mint, Mercedes Chandler, the person in the instagram video, said, “Look at these clothes in Walmart...All the tags have these bottom pieces ripped off. But then you find one with the bottom still on at $10.98. The price is raised to $11.98.”

"This is the effect of Donald Trump's tariffs. I'm gonna show you a pretty bad one right here," she said.

Chandler, the content creator, then moves on to see the price tags on the child's clothes. "You can see they ripped off the bottom. That's what it's supposed to look like, $6.98. These are up to $10.98. Now. That is a $4.00 increase," she highlighted.

Sharing another example, the creator added, “Here's a backpack that was $19.97. Now it's $24.97.” She claimed, "While in the store, we saw anywhere from a dollar to $8 price increases across products all over the store."

The Instagrammer also challenged her viewers to see this for themselves by browsing the clothing section, saying, “If you don't believe me, go to your local, whether it be Walmart or Target, and check this out for yourself when you're going through the clothing.”

Prices Hidden Deliberately

According to The Sun, workers at large US retailers, such as Walmart and Target, have confirmed that they have been asked to remove portions of previous price tags when new, higher prices are applied. This effectively hides comparisons and reduces consumer awareness of the price hikes.

A Target worker wrote on Reddit, an online discussion forum, "I work apparel and we've had to start tearing off the parts on the price tags where they had the original price, 'cause majority went up $5-$10 more.”

But the US President has repeatedly criticised companies for imposing the increased cost onto consumers.

“Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices,” Trump posted on Truth Social on May 17.

“Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, ‘EAT THE TARIFFS,’ and not charge valued customers ANYTHING.”