Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, overall prices in stores are still higher than a year ago - they are just rising more slowly than they were in 2022-2023.

That distinction is important:

The US has been in disinflation, not deflation.

According to the Consumer Price Index, CPI, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall prices were up about 2.5% to 3% year-over-year at the end of 2025. That means a basket of goods that cost $100 a year ago costs about $102.50 to $103 today.

Grocery prices specifically were also up about 2-3% year-over-year on average. So your total grocery bill is higher than a year ago.

Some individual items have gotten cheaper compared to a year ago, while others got more expensive, for example:

Often lower/flat vs. a year ago: eggs, some fresh produce, gasoline, and some electronics after supply chains normalized.

Still higher vs. a year ago: housing/rent, restaurant meals, auto insurance, beef, and many packaged goods.

So even if inflation has come down from over 9% in 2022 to around 3%, that doesn't mean prices went back to 2021 levels - it just means they are increasing slower.

If you tell me what store or what type of items you are asking about and where you are located, I can give you a more specific breakdown for that category.