The first bit of news came courtesy of retail leader Walmart (NYSE: WMT). Rather, alarm bells sounded from two different quarters of the retail sector, suggesting that inflation is having a bigger effect on purchasing behavior than previously realized -- which could ultimately affect consumer goods stocks. As the largest physical retailer in the U.S., Walmart is widely considered a bellwether for the broader economy, owing to its "everyday low prices" and broad brick-and-mortar footprint.