Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

[1]No, prices in stores are generally not lower compared to a year ago (as of the latest available data around September–November 2026), though the picture is mixed by category, with overall inflation still positive but much cooler than the post-pandemic peaks, and some specific items or retailer promotions showing declines.[1]

Overall Consumer Prices

The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for all items was up about 3.7% year-over-year in September 2026 (the most recent detailed BLS data referenced across sources). This means the broad basket of goods and services costs more than a year earlier. Core CPI (excluding food and energy) was around 2.6%. Energy prices (especially gasoline) surged sharply (+20%+ or more YoY in some reports, driven by factors like geopolitical issues), pulling the headline higher, while other areas were milder.[2][3][1]

Store/Retail and Grocery Prices Specifically

•Food at home (groceries): Up 1.8% YoY in September 2026. This is well below overall inflation and the high rates seen in 2021–2023, and it even edged down slightly month-over-month in some recent periods. Subcategories vary: dairy was down ~0.7%, meats/poultry/fish/eggs roughly flat (+0.3%), while fruits/vegetables and nonalcoholic beverages were up more (~3.7–3.8%). Specific staples like eggs have seen large drops in some periods (e.g., after avian flu spikes), milk/bread relatively stable or slightly down in average price data, while ground beef or other items rose.[1][4][5]

•Core goods/commodities less food and energy: Up a modest ~0.7% YoY. Used cars/trucks were down (~1.5%), medical care commodities down more significantly (~3.3%), apparel up (~3.4%), new vehicles roughly flat to slightly up.[1][4]

•Retailer actions and baskets: Major chains (e.g., Walmart, Target, Aldi) have cut prices on thousands of items (“rollbacks”) in recent years, especially 2024 onward, in response to consumer pushback, leading to more discounts and promotions. Some independent basket trackers and retailer data (e.g., Aldi reporting ~1/3 of products cheaper YoY with average prices down slightly; Jefferies noting recent grocery basket drops at several chains) show selective declines or stability. NPR’s multi-year Walmart tracking in prior periods found many items flat or mixed (some cheaper like certain produce/meats, others up). However, a typical full grocery basket is still higher than a year ago on average, even if the rate of increase has slowed dramatically.[6][7][8][9]

Context and Caveats

•Cooling but not deflation overall: Goods prices (what you buy in stores) have been softer than services (rent, restaurants, etc., which remain stickier). There was more notable goods deflation or heavy discounting in parts of 2024. Cumulative prices remain substantially higher than pre-2020/2021 levels (e.g., groceries up ~30%+ since early 2020 in some measures).[10][11]

•What shoppers experience: Receipts can feel higher due to mix of items, shrinkflation (smaller packages), or comparison to older memories. Targeted shopping (sales, store brands, discounters like Aldi/Walmart) can yield lower effective prices. Gas and energy-related costs have been volatile and recently elevated.

•Data notes: Figures are primarily U.S.-focused from BLS CPI (national averages; local variation exists). UK/other markets (e.g., Aldi data) show similar mixed or slightly deflationary trends for some discounters amid low single-digit grocery inflation. Latest full monthly details are often lagged; real-time private trackers can differ slightly.

In short, while many store items are stable, discounted, or cheaper in spots—and the pace of increases has slowed a lot—average prices for the typical store basket (especially groceries) are modestly higher than a year ago, not lower. Check current local ads, unit prices, and BLS/average price data for the most relevant comparisons.

Citations (11)

1bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/charts/cpi-cpi_rc_1cpibycat.stm
2bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/consumer-price-index-2024-in-review.htm
Backs: “Energy prices (especially gasoline) surged sharply (+20%+ or more YoY in some reports, driven by factors like geopolitical issues), pulling the headline higher, while other areas were milder.”
3finansignal.comNot yet classified
https://finansignal.com/finance/inflation-rate-2026
Backs: “Energy prices (especially gasoline) surged sharply (+20%+ or more YoY in some reports, driven by factors like geopolitical issues), pulling the headline higher, while other areas were milder.”
4bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t01.htm
Backs: “Specific staples like eggs have seen large drops in some periods (e.g., after avian flu spikes), milk/bread relatively stable or slightly down in average price data, while ground beef or other items rose.”
5datenus.comLow provenance
https://datenus.com/economy/prices
Backs: “Specific staples like eggs have seen large drops in some periods (e.g., after avian flu spikes), milk/bread relatively stable or slightly down in average price data, while ground beef or other items rose.[[1]](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/charts/cpi-c”
6retailbrew.comNews and media
https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/12/18/2024-was-the-year-of-discounts-price-cuts-and-more-affordable-assortments
Backs: “However, a typical full grocery basket is still higher than a yea”
7npr.orgNews and mediaquality 0.93
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5241014
Backs: “However, a typical full grocery basket is still higher than a year ago on average, even if the rate of increase has slowed dramatically.”
8investing.comNews and mediaquality 0.54
https://ng.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/jefferies-finds-grocery-basket-prices-drop-across-retailers-93CH-2791000
Backs: “However, a typical full grocery basket is still higher than a year ago on average, even if the rate of increase has slowed dramatically.[[6]](https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/12/18/2024-was-the-year-of-discounts-price-cuts-and-more-affo”
9thegrocer.co.ukNot yet classified
https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/more-than-a-third-of-aldi-products-cheaper-than-a-year-ago/725462.article
Backs: “However, a typical full grocery basket is still higher than a year ago on average, even if the rate of increase has slowed dramatically.[[8]](https://ng.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/je”
10investopedia.comCommercial contentquality 0.93
https://www.investopedia.com/shoppers-could-be-seeing-lower-prices-this-holiday-season-8729096
Backs: “Cumulative prices remain substantially higher than pre-2020/20”
11americandefault.orgNonprofits and think tanks
https://americandefault.org/statistics/grocery-price-increase-since-2020/
Backs: “Cumulative prices remain substantially higher than pre-2020/2021 levels (e.g., groceries up ~30%+ since early 2020 in some measures).”