Report claims Amazon raised prices since Donald Trump took office; company says: Setting the record straight
Amazon has strongly disputed a Wall Street Journal analysis claiming the e-commerce giant raised prices on everyday essentials by 5% following President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, calling the methodology “fundamentally flawed” and accusing the publication of cherry-picking data.The WSJ study examined 2,500 common items including cough drops, antibacterial wipes, and chicken broth, finding average price increases from Trump’s inauguration through July 1. The report suggested these hikes were linked to anticipated tariff impacts on international goods.
Amazon disputes report as ‘surgical cherry-picking’ of data
In a lengthy blog post response, Amazon challenged the Journal’s approach, noting the sample represented less than 0.04% of its 6 million everyday essential products. The company argued that WSJ compared only two specific dates rather than analyzing price trends over time, which Amazon says would show a different picture.“The WSJ took a very different approach and made several critical methodological flaws that undermine its conclusions,” Amazon stated, adding that approximately two-thirds of the analyzed products actually had no price change or decreased in price during the same period.Amazon specifically criticized WSJ for using promotional prices as baselines, citing examples like Dove deodorant and Yogi Tea bags that were on sale in January. The company claims these items appeared to have price increases only because temporary promotions ended, not due to inflation or tariff concerns.
Amazon cites price cuts on hundreds of items as tariff debate intensifies
Amazon emphasized its track record of meeting or beating competitor prices, citing eight consecutive years of independent research by Profitero showing Amazon as the lowest-priced U.S. retailer for everyday essentials.Consumer prices rose 0.3% monthly and 2.7% annually according to June Bureau of Labor Statistics data, reflecting broader inflationary pressures across the economy.Amazon provided examples of hundreds of price decreases during the same period, including a 38% reduction on shower caddies and 37% cuts on craft supplies, arguing the WSJ failed to present a complete picture of its pricing strategy.
