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GPT-5Nov 3, 2026openai/gpt-5-2025-08-07
Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Short answer: No—on average, prices in US stores are higher than a year ago.
•Overall consumer prices were up 3.7% in September 2026 versus September 2025 (latest data available today, November 3, 2026).[1]
•Groceries (food at home) rose 1.8% year over year; restaurant prices (food away from home) rose 3.5%. Within groceries, dairy was down 0.7% year over year.[1]
•Apparel was up 3.4% year over year.[1]
•Some categories did fall: used cars and trucks were down about 1.5% year over year.[1]
Note: The October CPI report is scheduled for November 10, 2026; that will update these comparisons.[2]
If you have a specific type of store or product in mind (e.g., groceries, electronics, furniture), I can pull the latest category details.
Citations (2)
- Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Overall consumer prices were up 3.7% in September 2026 versus September 2025 (latest data available today, November 3, 2026).”
- Schedule of Selected Releases 2026
Backs: “The October CPI report is scheduled for November 10, 2026; that will update these comparisons.”