Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
The USAFacts and NBC snippets say tomatoes were cheaper than a year earlier (January 2026) while the Better Report says tomatoes were up 12.8% year over year (July 2026), though the two cover different time periods.
Overall: No, prices are generally higher than a year ago — though it's a mixed picture
Overall inflation is still running above zero, meaning most goods and services cost more than a year ago. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment as of the latest CPI report (August 2026). Core inflation rose 2.4% over the 12 months through August, the lowest core inflation rate since March 2021.
Groceries specifically
Grocery inflation has slowed dramatically compared to the 2021-2022 spike, but prices are still higher on average:
It's very much a "mixed basket" — some items are cheaper, others cost more
Items that got cheaper:
Items that got more expensive (as of July 2026 data):
Bottom line
So it depends on what you're buying: eggs, chicken, and some produce are notably cheaper than a year ago, but beef, coffee, and several other staples continue climbing. Inflation is cooling overall, yet many grocery items are still more expensive than a year ago, keeping the cost of groceries high for households. The next official CPI update, covering September data, is due October 14, 2026.
Citations (10)
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M08 Results
Source excerpt: “Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment. ”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4 percent before seasonal adjustment (August 2026 CPI).
- US CPI August 2026: Inflation Picks Up as Gas Prices Surge
Source excerpt: “Core inflation rose 2.4% over the 12 months through August — the lowest core inflation rate since March 2021 — in line with expectations and down from...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Core inflation rose 2.4% over the 12 months through August, the lowest since March 2021.
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI was unchanged from June 2026 to July 2026 and 2.7 percent higher than in July 2025....”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Food-at-home CPI was unchanged June to July 2026 and 2.7 percent higher than in July 2025.
- Are groceries more expensive than last year? | USAFacts
Source excerpt: “Grocery store food prices increased 2.1% from January 2025 to January 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s less than the in...”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Grocery store food prices increased 2.1% from January 2025 to January 2026 per BLS.
- Are groceries more expensive than last year? | USAFacts
Source excerpt: “... Eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, bread and chicken were all cheaper as of January 2026 than a year prior. Egg prices decreased the most (-48.0%), followe...”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: Eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, bread and chicken were cheaper in January 2026 than a year prior; eggs fell 48.0%.
- How grocery prices have changed since Trump took office
Source excerpt: “The average price of eggs — a frequent stand-in for inflation during the campaign — have declined from a spring 2025 peak and are now down 31% since T...”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: Egg prices have declined from a spring 2025 peak and are down 31% since Trump took office.
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “According to the latest BLS data, the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, while apples cost 11% more in July 2026 than they did in July 2025....”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Tomatoes up 12.8% year over year and apples 11% more in July 2026 than July 2025.
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Beef roasts (up 13.5%), steaks (+9.6%), and ground beef (+9%) all posted increases over the past year. ”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Beef roasts up 13.5%, steaks up 9.6%, ground beef up 9% over the past year.
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Coffee prices also continued to climb, with instant coffee up 15.8% year over year, roasted coffee up 12.2%, and coffee overall up 9.4%. ”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Instant coffee up 15.8%, roasted coffee up 12.2%, coffee overall up 9.4% year over year.
- Food Prices and Grocery Affordability – Latest Inflation Trends and Impacts in the U.S.
Source excerpt: “In short, inflation is cooling overall, yet many grocery items are still more expensive than a year ago, keeping the cost of groceries high for househ...”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Inflation is cooling overall, yet many grocery items are still more expensive than a year ago, keeping grocery costs high.