Walmart, a major US retailer, has issued a profit warning for the second time since May as rising food and gasoline prices have a negative impact on consumer spending.

The business reports that it now anticipates a 13 percent decline in profits for this year.

According to a specialist, Walmart’s unexpected move “signals a caution bell for the retail industry,” according to the BBC.

In New York’s after-hours trading, the company’s stock value plummeted by about 10%, while shares of rival shops Amazon and Target also saw precipitous declines.

Walmart has previously stated that it anticipated a 1% decline in full-year profit this year.

After US markets closed on Monday, its chief executive Doug McMillon released a statement in which he stated that “the rising levels of food and fuel inflation are influencing how customers spend.”

The store, he continued, intended to lower apparel costs because it “anticipated additional pressure on general items in the second half” of this year.

According to Neil Saunders, general director of retail at data analytics company GlobalData, customers are having to spend more of their money on necessities and have reduced other purchases as a result of rising food and petrol prices.

According to Mr. Saunders, Walmart’s warning signals that several other shops are also experiencing pressure.

“Walmart has unparalleled purchasing power. That helps it combat some inflation, but as today’s statement demonstrates, even the most powerful are susceptible to price increases “said he.

The price of Amazon’s Prime program for UK subscribers was hiked on Monday for the first time since 2014 due to “increasing inflation and operating costs.” Prime provides streaming entertainment services as well as limitless merchandise delivery.

Because of growing fuel and food prices, prices in the US and UK are rising at their quickest rate in forty years.

Daily expenses for both homes and companies have increased as a result of the Ukraine war and supply chain problems brought on by the epidemic.

Walmart stated that it has more than $60 billion (£49.7 billion) in stock and promised to make “aggressive” price reductions on select goods in its most recent earnings report in May.

Additionally, the corporation reduced its profit forecast for the first time. Its shares had their worst one-day decline as a result since 1987.

On August 16, Walmart is expected to release its second quarter earnings.