Panthers re-sign longtime RT Taylor Moton to a 2-year, $44M extension, AP sources says

Panthers re-sign longtime RT Taylor Moton to a 2-year, $44M extension, AP sources says

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE N.C. (AP) — Taylor Moton is staying in Carolina.

The Panthers announced Friday they’ve given their durable longtime right tackle a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2027 season.

Moton will make $44 million over the next two years including $40 million in guaranteed money, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team typically does not release financial details of contracts.

The deal means the Panthers have all five starting offensive linemen under contract at least through the 2026 season.

A second-round pick in 2017, Moton has been an extremely consistent player in Carolina playing in 129 games with 113 starts. He has missed only three games, all of those last year with an elbow injury, which ended a streak of 104 consecutive starts.

During training camp, Moton got emotional when asked if this might be his final year in Carolina and indicated he wanted to stay.

“All the blood, all the sweat, all the tears, right? I’ve been through so much here; being a Panther means a lot to me,” Moton said on July 30. “The city means a lot to me. I found my family here, I found my son here, you know? So much sacrifice has gone out on the football field, the practice field here at Bank of America Stadium.

“I put so much time, so much heart into it, right? So it’s just crazy, you know, but at the end of the day, focused on finishing this out the right way. If it is, obviously I said I have some good years left, but I have a deep passion for this city, for this organization, for all the guys in the locker room, all the staff, everyone involved in making this thing go.”

Panthers coach Dave Canales is expected to address the move during his news conference on Friday.

Trump says he’ll keep extending TikTok shutdown deadline

Trump says he’ll keep extending TikTok shutdown deadline

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling national security and privacy concerns related to TikTok and its Chinese parent company “highly overrated” and said Friday he’ll keep extending the deadline for the popular video-sharing platform until there’s a buyer.

Congress approved a U.S. ban on TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold its controlling stake. But Trump has so far extended the deadline three times during his second term — with the next one coming up on Sept. 17.

“We’re gonna watch the security concerns,” Trump told reporters, but added, “We have buyers, American-buyers,” and “until the complexity of things work out, we just extend a little bit longer.”

The first extension was through an executive order on Jan. 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban — approved by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — took effect. The second was in April, when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trump’s tariff announcement.

His comments follow the White House starting a TikTok account this week.

“I used TikTok in the campaign,” Trump said.

“I’m a fan of TikTok,” he said. “My kids like TikTok. Young people love TikTok. If we could keep it going.”

As the extensions continue, it appears less and less likely that TikTok will be banned in the U.S. any time soon. The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but the administration has not faced a legal challenge in court — unlike many of Trump’s other executive orders.

Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure.

Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report.

Managers miffed at offshore sports betting on Little League World Series

Managers miffed at offshore sports betting on Little League World Series

By AMANDA VOGT Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — This week, as usual, sports bettors can get action on MLB games from U.S.-based gambling sites. Meanwhile, at least a couple of offshore bookmakers are offering odds on games at the Little League World Series.

Team managers, and Little League itself, are not pleased.

“I’m not a fan,” said South Carolina’s manager Dave Bogan, noting he goes to Las Vegas twice a year. “It’s just not appropriate, it feels dirty, quite honestly.”

In news conferences throughout the Little League World Series, U.S. team managers have voiced their displeasure with gambling on their games — players at the tournament top out at 12 years old. Little League International also released a statement last week denouncing sports betting on youth competition.

“Little League is a trusted place where children are learning the fundamentals of the games and all the important life lessons that come with having fun, celebrating teamwork, and playing with integrity,” the statement said. “No one should be exploiting the success and failures of children playing the game they love for their own personal gain.”

BetOnline and Bovada are among the offshore sites offering daily odds on LLWS matchups. They are both based outside the United States and are both illegal to use in the U.S. and not subject to its laws. BetOnline is located in Panama and has offered sports betting and gambling since 1991. Bovada, a Costa Rica-based company, joined the scene in 2011.

BetOnline’s brand manager Dave Mason said in a post on X that BetOnline is making the moneylines itself and that it “ain’t easy.” He has posted odds on X throughout the tournament.

Jon Solomon, the community impact director of Project Play, an initiative of the Aspen Institute’s Sports and Society program, said there are negative effects on young players whose games are the subject of betting. Such wagering, he says, is fairly common.

In 2018, Project Play surveyed Mobile County, Alabama, and found that “26% of surveyed youth said they had played in a game where adults bet money on who won or the final score,” according to its State of Play report.

The report said that tackle football, basketball and baseball were more likely to be gambled on by adults according to the children surveyed.

“This is just, you know, bets that usually sort of happen, maybe at the field, or in the gym,” Solomon said in a phone interview. “Kids are already facing a lot of pressure in youth sports these days. It is a highly commercialized industry with a lot of people already making a lot of money.”

When gambling is involved in the actual performance of the game, Solomon believes the pressure can be even higher. The report showed that gambling “was witnessed by both boys (33%) and girls (19%).” In professional and collegiate sports, Solomon noted instances of athletes getting harassed by gamblers — think any kicker who missed a last-second field goal.

“Now imagine the stakes for a more impressionable child, right, or teenager?” Solomon said. “It’s so unhealthy and so unneeded, and I think if anyone is betting on youth sports, they should seriously seek help because you have a serious addiction most likely.”

Hawaii Little League manager Gerald Oda is adamant that gambling on these games takes away from the “beauty” of Little League.

“This is the only tournament where you’re representing your local community,” Oda said. “It’s that innocence, that pureness that these kids show on the field.”

Oda believes the memories his 12-year-old players make are more important than the games won or lost.

“It’s about them experiencing this whole moment here. They’re going to have memories saying that when I was 12, this is what we did,” Oda said. “Gambling is here to stay, but I am thankful that Little League is very protective of what they have, and they should be. You know that pure joy and emotion whether you win or you lose, that’s the greatest thing.”

Solomon said youth sports is “all about the delivery of the sport” from leagues and coaches.

“Sports, if not delivered properly, can be harmful to children and betting on sports would definitely fall into that category of it being harmful,” Solomon said. Pressure from parents and coaches, as well as early sports specialization, can also negatively impact youth sports.

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act that made sports betting illegal across most of the U.S for over 25 years. Now, 39 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized sports betting but states don’t allow wagers to be made where those competing are under 18.

In keeping with those laws, no online betting sites such as FanDuel, Draft Kings or ESPN Bet offer lines on the LLWS and Nevada’s manager TJ Fechser hopes that doesn’t change.

“We’re in a big crazy world now and if we ever see publicized sports books throughout the world standardizing it, we have to really look into ourselves. Is this appropriate?” Fechser said. “I’m not the decider on this, but I don’t want to see it being standardized.”

___

Amanda Vogt is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip

This recipe is comfort food and a crowd-pleaser all in one! Make it as a treat to come home to or as an appetizer for your next gathering.

Ingredients

  • ~3 cups of fully cooked shredded chicken (canned or rotisserie chicken work well)
  • 1 cup hot sauce of your choice (Frank’s works well)
  • 2 (8oz.) packages softened cream cheese
  • 1 cup ranch dressing or 1 pkg. ranch powder
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2-3 green onions, chopped
  • 3-5 celery stems, chopped (optional)
  • a bag of baby carrots (optional)
  • crackers (optional)
  • chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.

2. Mix the ingredients together
In a large bowl, mix the chicken, hot sauce, cream cheese, ranch and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese together.

3. Transfer to oven-safe dish
Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish, like a 9×13 in baking dish or a large bakeware dish. Then, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the mixture and the chopped green onions.

4. Bake
Bake the dip in the oven for about 20 minutes.

5. Serve it hot
Enjoy right away with chips, celery, carrots or crackers–your choice!

August 22nd 2025

August 22nd 2025

Thought of the Day

August 22nd 2024
Photo by Getty Images

Being of value is greater than any other form of success.

Steelers beat Panthers 19-10 in preseason finale, but lose 1st-round pick Harmon to knee injury

Steelers beat Panthers 19-10 in preseason finale, but lose 1st-round pick Harmon to knee injury

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Skylar Thompson completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards including a 24-yard touchdown strike to Lance McCutcheon, rookie Ben Sauls kicked four field goals and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers 19-10 on Thursday night in the preseason finale.

The Steelers played a handful of starters on both sides of the ball, while the Panthers rested all of theirs and several top reserves.

Getting some players extra preseason reps may have backfired on Steelers coach Mike Tomlin as defensive end Derrick Harmon, the team’s first-round draft pick, was carted to the locker room with a knee injury in the first half. Harmon, the 21st pick in the draft, did not return.

The Steelers had no immediate update on the seriousness of the injury, but Harmon left the field with tears in his eyes and a towel draped over his head.

Thompson entered the game in the second quarter in relief of Mason Rudolph, who started with Aaron Rodgers sitting out. Thompson, who started one game last season for the Miami Dolphins, completed his first five passes for 72 yards, including a perfectly-placed over-the-shoulder pass to McCutcheon in the left corner of the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.

Thompson also connected on a 53-yard strike to Scotty Miller, who finished with 82 yards on three receptions.

Rudolph finished 6 of 8 for 36 yards, including an interception on an overthrow.

Jack Plummer, playing in place of Bryce Young and the injured Andy Dalton, started slow for the Panthers with a red-zone interception on Carolina’s third possession after escaping pressure in the pocket. But he battled back to complete 7 of 14 passes for 48 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown toss to a wide-open James Mitchell in the corner of the end zone to tie it at 10 before halftime.

Carolina struggled in the second half under recently signed quarterback Bryce Perkins, who turned the ball over on a sack-fumble by Yahya Black and failed to lead a scoring drive.

Warren makes debut

Running back Jaylen Warren made his preseason debut for the Steelers and had 3 yards rushing on two carries and 12 yards receiving on two catches. Warren is expected to start for the Steelers this season, although rookie Kaleb Johnson will push him for playing time.

Johnson had 24 yards on five carries.

Kicking battle

Ryan Fitzgerald made a 43-yard field goal and an extra point for the Panthers.

The rookie from Florida State is battling for a roster spot with journeyman Matthew Wright. The Panthers elected not to re-sign unrestricted free agent Eddy Pineiro. Despite being the NFL’s third-most accurate kicker ever at 88.1%, Pineiro has yet to land a spot with an NFL team.

Sauls made field goals of 38, 50, 49 and 28 yards.

Injuries

Steelers: Aside from Harmon, WR Brandon Johnson left in the first half with a foot injury.

Panthers: OLB Princely Umanmielen (shoulder), OT Ja’Tyre Carter (ankle) and RB Raheem Blackshear (ankle) sustained injuries.

Up next

Both teams open the season on the road Sept. 7, with the Steelers facing the Jets, and Panthers playing the Jaguars.

Hurricane Erin still stirring up dangerous waves while it moves away from the East Coast

Hurricane Erin still stirring up dangerous waves while it moves away from the East Coast

By ALLEN G. BREED and JOHN SEEWER Associated Press

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin kicked up big waves Thursday along the mid-Atlantic coast and began a slow march out to sea after pelting North Carolina’s Outer Banks with strong winds and swells that flooded a few places on the barrier islands.

The storm will continue to bring the threat of dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding into the weekend from the Carolinas to New England even as forecasters predict it will gradually weaken while moving farther away from the East Coast.

Damage assessments were still underway on the Outer Banks and more flooding could come during high tide Thursday evening, but it appeared the low-lying islands dodged widespread destruction during its initial brush with Erin on Wednesday.

Tropical storm warnings remained active along the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia and the island of Bermuda, where residents and tourists were told to stay out of the water through Friday.

New York and New England feel Erin’s impact

Coastal communities along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast may see tropical-storm-force wind gusts through early Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Beaches were closed to swimming Thursday in New York City, but that didn’t stop more than a dozen surfers from taking on the waves at Rockaway Beach in Queens. Scott Klossner, who lives nearby, said conditions were great for experienced surfers.

“You wait all year round for these kinds of waves. It’s challenging, really hard to stay in one place because there’s a heavy, heavy, heavy rip,” he said. “But this is what surfers want — a hurricane that comes but doesn’t destroy my house? I’ll take that.”

Off Massachusetts, Nantucket Island could see waves of more than 10 feet (3 meters) this week.

Authorities up and down the coast have been warning all week that rip currents from the storm could be deadly. Dozens were rescued from North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach earlier this week.

Erin brings new threat of coastal erosion

Coastal erosion was a big worry in many beachfront communities. In North Carolina, waves were estimated as high as 18 feet (5.5 meters) Thursday morning, according to local weather reports.

The Outer Banks — essentially sand dunes sticking out of the ocean a few feet above sea level — are especially vulnerable. Storm surges can cut through the dunes, washing tons of sand and debris onto the road and sometimes breaking up pavement and creating new inlets.

But Dare County Manager Bobby Outten said one of their worst fears — new inlets — had not happened so far with Erin and there was no significant structural damage to any homes or businesses.

“All in all, it’s not as bad as it could have been,” Outten said. “Hopefully the worst of it is behind us.”

The Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, a volunteer group based in Buxton, said it received no calls for rescues Wednesday night through Thursday morning.

Waves did break through dunes on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, closing parts of Highway 12, the area’s main route. Ocracoke’s connection to its ferry terminal was cut off.

Fishing and sight-seeing after the storm

On Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head, where sustained winds reached 45 mph (72 kph) early Thursday, dozens who rode out the storm were taking photos of the huge waves crashing into the structure amid the driving rain.

“This is nature at her best,” David Alan Harvey of Nags Head said Thursday morning. “I love this. I love these storms.”

A few feet away, Sebastian Kettner was casting a line for red fish.

“Where there’s water, there’s fish,” he said as the wind howled. “And there’s a lot of water here.”

Erin remains a large hurricane as it heads out to sea

The storm has fluctuated in intensity since first forming nearly a week ago, but it’s still unusually large, stretching across more than 600 miles (965 kilometers) — twice as big as the average hurricane.

It remained a Category 2 storm late Thursday morning with maximum sustained winds around 100 mph (160 kph), the hurricane center said. Erin was about 285 miles (455 kilometers) east of Cape Hatteras.

The hurricane center was also watching two tropical disturbances far out in the Atlantic. With thousands of miles of warm ocean water, hurricanes known as Cape Verde storms are some of the most dangerous to North America.

___

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press journalists Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.

NC State’s Dave Doeren enters Year 13 driven by milestones yet reached for the Wolfpack

NC State’s Dave Doeren enters Year 13 driven by milestones yet reached for the Wolfpack

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — No one has won more games at N.C. State than Dave Doeren and only five coaches in the Bowl Subdivision ranks have been at their programs longer.

Yet Doeren enters his 13th season driven by milestones still unmet. After all, his teams have flirted reaching 10 wins or reaching the ACC title game in recent years.

“I had a lot of goals when I got here, and I’ve accomplished a lot of them,” Doeren said. “But there’s still … meat on the bone.”

N.C. State (6-7) is coming off a fifth straight bowl bid and 10th in the past 11 years under Doeren, a run that includes four nine-win seasons and three of those with 6-2 league records.

Yet securing only the second 10-win season has proven elusive, down to the Wolfpack’s 2021 shot ending when UCLA backed out of a matchup in the Holiday Bowl due to COVID-19 issues. So too with the first-ever bid to the ACC championship game, with the Wolfpack coming closest that same season.

This year, N.C. State is picked to finish 10th in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.

Staff changes

Doeren has adjusted his coaching staff, hiring DJ Eliot as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after Tony Gibson left to become Marshall’s head coach. Doeren also fired Robert Anae as offensive coordinator after two uneven seasons and promoted Kurt Roper to that role in addition to keeping his duties overseeing quarterbacks. Roper has been on Doeren’s staff in Raleigh since 2019.

QB growth

Quarterback CJ Bailey was pressed into duty as a true freshman last year with transfer arrival Grayson McCall facing injuries that ultimately ended his career. He started nine games and threw for 2,413 yards with 17 touchdowns amid learning-on-the-job stress.

“When I first got in (against Louisiana Tech), I struggled, I threw an interception on my second drive,” Bailey said. “I was frustrated on the sideline because I know how good I am. I can’t make mistakes like that.”

Doeren said Bailey has improved his mentality as a returning starter.

“You’ve got to know how to bounce back from it,” Bailey said.

Returning threats

N.C. State returns its leading rusher in redshirt sophomore Hollywood Smothers, who ran for 571 yards and six touchdowns in a split backfield.

Top receiver KC Concepcion is gone, but tight end Justin Joly is a big target (43 catches, 661 yards, four TDs) while receiver Noah Rogers (35 catches, 478 yards, one TD) is a returning starter.

Defensive trouble

The Wolfpack ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (20.0) and 20th in total defense (329.5 yards) over linebacker Payton Wilson’s last two seasons, according to Sportradar. N.C. State fell dramatically in both categories (30.2, 390.8) without him last year.

“It’s always hard to replace a player like him,” linebacker Caden Fordham said, adding: “I just think a couple of times last year when we faced a little bit of adversity, sometimes we kind of let it roll on longer than it should in situations.”

The schedule

The Wolfpack’s first six games are in North Carolina, first with a Thursday night visit from East Carolina (Aug. 28) in a testy instate series — including last year’s Military Bowl won by the Pirates in a meeting featuring a late brawl. There’s also an unusual nonconference game against ACC member Virginia (Sept. 6) that won’t count in the league standings as it was added outside the conference’s scheduling model.

The official ACC opener comes at Wake Forest (Sept. 11), while a trip to sixth-ranked Notre Dame (Oct. 11) tops a schedule capped by a visit from rival North Carolina (Nov. 29).

North Carolina begins its journey under Bill Belichick with a spotlight – and plenty of uncertainty

North Carolina begins its journey under Bill Belichick with a spotlight – and plenty of uncertainty

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Bill Belichick brings a résumé with six Super Bowl titles as an NFL head coach to his first foray into college coaching at North Carolina.

His arrival was something of a spectacle, one teeming with pressure for a team that will play under a spotlight tied to Belichick’s mere presence on the sideline.

“For all of us, it’s control what we can control,” Belichick said as the Tar Heels opened preseason camp. “Whoever’s here or isn’t here, that’s out of our control. We have a job to do. We have a lot of work to accomplish.”

Change is afoot, from Belichick’s staff featuring sons Steve and Brian as assistants along with former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager, to 70 new players since the school parted ways with longtime coach Mack Brown last year. It is all part of UNC’s bet on elevating its football program, including signing the 73-year-old Belichick to a five-year deal — with the first three years guaranteed at $10 million in base and supplemental salary.

“He’s coached at the highest level,” receiver Jordan Shipp said. “He’s coached the greatest players of all time. So it’s just like, you want to do what he’s telling you to do. … It’s worked for so people, so why wouldn’t it work for me?”

The first payoffs have come with off-field attention, such as his debut being a Labor Day game in a college version of Monday night football, or having a 2026 game in Ireland. Those types of benefits, along with selling out all season and single-game tickets, were expected.

On the field? Things are more unclear. The Tar Heels (6-7 last year) are picked to finish eighth in the 17-team Atlantic Coast Conference.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to go out there and play football,” said defensive back Thaddeus Dixon, a transfer who played under Steve Belichick at Washington. “He can’t make no plays.”

QB focus

South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez entered camp as the expected front-runner to become the starting quarterback after committing in the spring. The 6-foot redshirt sophomore threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while also running for 463 yards and seven scores last year.

“All I can prove is if we put a W in the column, then I’m fine with that,” Lopez said, “That’s all that matters to me.”

The Tar Heels also have senior Max Johnson, who has battled back from a serious leg injury in last year’s opener against Minnesota, along with freshmen Bryce Baker and Au’Tori Newkirk.

Following Hampton

Omarion Hampton was UNC’s engine last year, running for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns to become a second-team Associated Press All-American and the 22nd overall pick in the NFL draft.

There’s no obvious successor, either.

Fifth-year senior Caleb Hood is back with 471 career yards rushing, while Davion Gause ran for 326 yards last year as a freshman backup to Hampton. The Tar Heels also have a returnee in Charleston French (84 yards last year), Michigan transfer Benjamin Hall (141 career yards) and four freshmen.

Improvement needed

Belichick’s defensive background would in theory help reverse long-running defensive problems in Chapel Hill going back to Larry Fedora’s final two coaching seasons. From 2017-24, UNC ranks 96th nationally among Bowl Subdivision teams in scoring defense (29.5) and 102nd in total defense (411.0), according to Sportradar.

UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick oversaw a defense at Washington that allowed 23.8 points and 328.4 yards per game last year.

The schedule

Belichick’s debut comes against TCU on Labor Day, while the ACC opener is a visit from the preseason league favorite in fourth-ranked Clemson (Oct. 4).

The Tar Heels have their first cross-country league trip with a Friday night visit to California (Oct. 17), then close the schedule with instate opponents: at Wake Forest (Nov. 15), home against Duke (Nov. 22) and at N.C. State (Nov. 29).

Tariffs aren’t keeping Walmart from attracting shoppers and outpacing Target

Tariffs aren’t keeping Walmart from attracting shoppers and outpacing Target

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart Inc. powered through an uncertain economic environment and tariff concerns to deliver solid second-quarter financial results Thursday, showing it keeps pulling in shoppers and outpacing peers like Target.

The nation’s largest retailer reported a 4.6% quarterly increase in comparable sales — those coming from established stores and online channels. Company executives said Walmart was attracting customers, particularly higher-income shoppers who may have avoided its stores in the past, with fast deliveries, grocery discounts and trendier clothes.

The company, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, also raised its annual profit and sales outlook.

Walmart’s results differed notably from those of rival Target, which on Wednesday reported another quarter of comparable sales declines. The Minneapolis-based company has struggled to find its footing as customers defect to Walmart and other stores where they think they will find greater bargains and increasingly, the same or better merchandise.

Target’s board of directors named a 20-year company veteran on Wednesday to succeed CEO Brian Cornell when he steps down after 11 years in early 2026.

Walmart said its profitable e-commerce operations, advertising revenue and selection of products with high profit margins have given it flexibility to absorb extra costs from the range of tariffs President Donald Trump has put on foreign products.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told investors Thursday that the impact of tariffs also has been gradual enough to mute changes in consumer spending behavior. When the discounter raised prices on certain items, it’s observed lower- and middle-income customers trading down to lower-priced options or foregoing purchases, he said.

The company will continue to see its costs increase as it replenishes inventory at post-tariff price levels, McMillion said.

“We’re doing what we said we would do,” he said. “We’re keeping our prices as low as we can for as long as we can. Our merchants have been creative and acted with urgency to avoid what would have been additional pressure for our customers and members.”

A growing list of companies, including Procter & Gamble, E.lf. Cosmetics, Black & Decker and Ralph Lauren, told investors in recent weeks that they planned to or already had raised prices because of tariffs, though modestly.

None of that has derailed consumer spending. Shoppers spent at a healthy pace in July, particularly at the nation’s auto dealerships, as signs emerged that President Donald Trump’s trade policies were taking a toll on jobs.

Some of that spending may have been shoppers buying furniture and other imported items to get ahead of expected price increases, analysts said.

On Tuesday, Home Depot, the nation’s largest home improvement retailer, reported improved sales during its latest quarter as consumers remained focused on smaller projects. Like Walmart, Home Depot’s performance missed Wall Street’s expectations.

The Atlanta-based company also said shoppers should expect modest price increases in some categories as a result of additional costs from tariffs, which are taxes on imports. Home Depot reported comparable sales increase of 1.4% in line with what home improvement rival Lowe’s reported on Wednesday.

But it’s Walmart that serves as a barometer of spending given its outsized power in American retailing. The company maintains that 90% of U.S. households rely on Walmart for a range of products, and more than 150 million customers shop on its website or in its stores every week.

Walmart said in May that prices had started to increase in late April and got higher in May. But it said Thursday that it had introduced 7,400 price rollbacks, or temporary discounts, across the aisles in the latest quarter.

The company said it earned $7.03 billion, or 88 cents per share, for the three-month period that ended July 31. That compares with $4.50 billion, or 56 cents per share, a year ago.

Sales rose nearly 5% to $177.4 billion. Walmart’s 4.6% growth in U.S. comparable sales during the second quarter was slightly higher than its first-quarter gain of 4.5%. Groceries and health and wellness items fueled the growth, the company said.

Global e-commerce sales rose 25%, above the 22% growth in the first quarter.

The retailer said roughly one-third of deliveries from its U.S. stores in recent weeks were orders requesting delivery in three hours or less, and 20% of those orders made it to customers in a half-hour or under.

Despite Walmart’s solid quarter, its stock price was down 5% in early afternoon trading as its earnings per share came in below what analysts had expected. Analysts were expecting 73 cents per share on sales of $175.93 billion for the quarter, according to FactSet.

Per share results, excluding effects of charges related to certain legal matters and from business restructuring, was 68 cents, Walmart said.

One $450 million expense was tied to settlements over worker and shopper injury claims, Walmart said. A company spokesperson said the cost per claim was increasing but not the total number.

For the year, Walmart raised its per-share estimates to a range of $2.52 to $2.62, up from a previous estimate of $2.50 to $2.60. It said 2025 sales are anticipated to increase 3.75% to 4.75%, more than it projected in May.

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