Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: generally no.

Using the latest available data, as of September 2026 U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher than in September 2025. Grocery-store prices (“food at home”) were 1.8% higher year over year; dining out was up 3.5%. Some specific categories fell (e.g., dairy −0.7% and used cars −1.5% year over year), but many others rose, including gasoline (+34% year over year). These figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September 2026 CPI release; the October report is due November 10, 2026.[1]

If you meant a particular type of store (groceries, electronics, home improvement) or your region, tell me and I can pull the closest figures.