Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Overall, no — prices in stores are generally higher than a year ago, though the picture is mixed depending on the specific item.
Overall inflation is up
As of the latest U.S. data (September 2026), the annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending September, up from 3.4% in August. This acceleration was largely driven by energy: gasoline prices soared 9.1%, accounting for about half the gain in headline CPI, while over the past year, gas has posted a 34.2% rise and fuel oil has roared higher by 74.2%.
Grocery prices: a mixed bag
Food-at-home prices are up modestly overall — the food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.1 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was 1.8 percent higher than in September 2025. But within that average, some items have gotten notably cheaper while others have gotten more expensive:
Items that are cheaper than a year ago:
Items that are more expensive than a year ago:
Retailers are fighting back with discounts
Facing cost-conscious shoppers, major chains have been cutting prices on select items. America's grocery stores are cutting prices to attract consumers who have pared back spending, with Walmart lowering the price of ground beef rolls, fresh corn, cherries, potato chips, and Coca-Cola. Similarly, Whole Foods has been expanding its store brand offerings and cutting prices, reducing prices on more than 900 products across private brands.
Bottom line: At the register, the broad trend is still upward — overall inflation is running at 3.7% year-over-year, driven heavily by energy and shelter costs. However, if you're shopping specifically for eggs, bacon, butter, dairy, or certain discounted retailer items, you may genuinely be paying less than you did a year ago, even as beef, fruit, coffee, and many other staples cost more.
Citations (12)
- Current U.S. Inflation Rates: 2000-2026
Source excerpt: “Home Inflation and Prices Current U.S. Inflation Rates (2000-2026) The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending Se...”
- CPI inflation report September 2026
Source excerpt: “Gasoline prices soared 9.1%, accounting for about half the gain in headline CPI, according to the BLS. Over the past year, gas has posted a 34.2% rise...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.1 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was 1.8 percent higher...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Egg prices increased 1.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 20.6 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025. ”
- Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “The cooldown in meat prices hit a range of products, including bacon, which costs 3.3% less than it did a year ago. ”
- Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “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...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Retail dairy prices decreased by 0.9 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 0.7 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025. ”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Beef and veal prices decreased by 1.3 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 3.5 percent higher in September 2026 than in September 2025....”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Retail fresh fruit prices increased by 2.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 4.9 percent higher in September 2026 than in September ...”
- 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%. ”
- As consumers pare spending, grocery stores race to cut prices
Source excerpt: “ET · America’s grocery stores are cutting prices to attract consumers who have pared back spending to cope with rising costs. Walmart, the nation’s la...”
- As consumers pare spending, grocery stores race to cut prices
Source excerpt: “Whole Foods Market, which was famously nicknamed Whole Paycheck for its higher prices, has been trying to alter that perception by expanding its store...”