Target workers say prices are exploding — and shoppers are about to feel it. 

Employees at the store are sharing photos of the price adjustments they make early in the morning on their social media accounts. The pictures capture the moment when shelf labels are updated to reflect significant price increases.

‘I feel bad doing all these price changes when everything goes up,’ one Target staffer said in a Reddit post. 

One individual commented on the posts, expressing disappointment about the consistent rise in prices. They mentioned that they have been involved in price changes for the past four months and the sudden surge in prices is disheartening.

One particular post featured a Target staff member sharing a photo of price labels for a Paw Patrol toy. The toy was originally priced at $51.99 until May 29. Shockingly, by June 7, the price had soared to $101.99, marking a staggering 96 percent increase.

Another post showed a box of Monster Energy drinks increasing from $15.59 to $24.99 — a nearly 38 percent spike. 

The hikes come as retailers grapple with inflationary pressures. Target didn’t respond to DailyMail.com’s questions about the cause of the price increases. 

But the adjustments aren’t a huge surprise. At the beginning of the year, multiple executives — including Target’s CEO — warned that President Donald Trump’s tariffs would push prices higher on a broad range of consumer goods. 

A Target employee posted this picture of two Paw Patrol price labels – dated for May 29 and June 7 – with a 96 percent increase

Since that announcement, Target has seen a steady stream of employees turning to social media to vent about price changes. 

In mid-May, another employee posted a picture of an old and new label for a Heyday brand USB-C cord.

The price increased from $9.99 to $17.99, an 80 percent increase. 

Independent analysts say the price adjustments are the result of careful modeling, not sticker shock theater. Retailers like Target rely on data and competitive pricing tools to avoid losing customers over even small increases. 

‘Price changes are a constant in retail and shouldn’t be assumed to be nefarious,’ Carol Spieckerman, a retail analyst and president of Spieckerman Retail, told DailyMail.com. 

‘If Target is over-stepping or gouging, it will feel the pain quickly. Shoppers are smart and do research.’ 

Still, the price swaps are worrying Target employees, who have increasingly voiced concern over the retailer’s direction and profit drops.  

And it’s not just Target. Other major chains are seeing the same kind of social media blowback from employees tasked with adjusting thousands of prices.  

Target employees have posted pictures of changing prices on Reddit – including up to 96 percent increases. This is a picture of a Target worker in store

Another Target employee posted a Reddit while swapping out a price points

Target has been warning customers that some products will see price increases (stock image)

Walmart staffers are posting screenshots from handheld devices on Reddit, revealing sweeping internal price hikes.

‘Lately my section has been getting 5,000 to 9,000 a week,’ one Walmart employee claimed, saying it marked a 40 to 50 percent increase from normal.

The wave of price changes is even extending into the automotive world. 

At Ford and BMW dealerships, employees have leaked internal bulletins showing MSRP hikes of more than $1,000. 

Subaru, Toyota, and Mitsubishi have all said they’re raising prices. 

Unlike retail chains, carmakers are often more upfront about cost shifts. But transparency comes with risk. 

Large corporations that openly tie rising prices to tariffs are drawing fire from the Trump administration. 

In May, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warned that prices would rise in response to sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods — a comment that drew backlash from President Donald Trump. 

Target’s stock price has plummeted over 31 percent since January

‘Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,’ Trump threatened on social media.’

Amazon briefly considered adding a line item for tariff costs on product pages. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the potential change a ‘hostile and political act.’

Since then, both Walmart and Amazon have silently raised prices — but they’ve kept quiet on why. 

And customers should expect more price hikes.  

According to Spieckerman, consumers scanning the toy aisle should prepare for fluctuating prices, like the Paw Patrol toy, because margins are thinner and costs are rising fast.

‘They’re definitely a tariff-sensitive category that is in high demand for the holidays,’ she said. 

‘I expect prices will rise and fall based on aggressive promotions.’ 

But for workers on the ground, that just means more price changes — and more customers asking why everything suddenly costs more.