Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Prices versus a year ago — I'll check the latest inflation and store price trends.

No, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago - they are still higher year-over-year, though the rate of increase has slowed and a few specific items are cheaper.

•Overall inflation: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers was 3.7% higher than a year earlier in September 2026

•Food overall was 2.5% higher year-over-year in September 2026

For grocery stores specifically (food-at-home):

•In August 2026, the food-at-home index, which tracks grocery store purchases, was unchanged from July to August, but it was still up 2.2 percent from a year earlier. Also reported as food-at-home prices were unchanged in August but were 2.2% higher than a year ago

•In September 2026, grocery prices dropped 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, leaving them 1.8% higher than a year earlier

•BLS 12-month change for September 2026: Food at home 1.8% and Food at home increased 0.1% since August and rose 1.8% from September 2025

That September year-over-year increase of 1.8% was well below the overall inflation rate of 3.7%, but still an increase, not a decrease.

USDA forecasts also do not show prices ending lower than last year - food-at-home prices are forecast to increase 2.5 percent for 2026 overall, with another forecast of 2.4% in 2026.

Some individual categories and items are lower than a year ago:

•Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs were only 0.3% higher overall, and Dairy and related products were -0.7% compared to a year ago

•Egg prices plummeted more than 20% over the year ending in September

•Butter prices plunged 10.3% last month compared to a year earlier, while prices for ice cream, milk and cheese each fell more than 2% over that period

•Bacon costs 3.3% less than it did a year ago

And some retailers have cut prices on part of their assortment - for example ALDI stated nearly one-third of products on ALDI shelves every day are now priced lower than they were last year- but that does not reflect the average grocery basket, which remains more expensive than a year ago.

Citations (2)

1tabbyspantry.comNot yet classified
Your Grocery Bill Is About to Take a Hit for the Rest of 2026, Here's Why - Tabbys Pantry
Backs: “Food overall was 2.5% higher year-over-year in September 2026. For grocery stores specifically (food-at-home): In August 2026, the food-at-home index, which tracks grocery store purchases, was unchanged from July to August, but it was still up 2.2 percent from a year earlier.”
2mycentraloregon.comNews and media
Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling?
Backs: “Also reported as food-at-home prices were unchanged in August but were 2.2% higher than a year ago. In September 2026, grocery prices dropped 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, leaving them 1.8% higher than a year earlier”