Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Generally speaking, no, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.

Instead, what the economy is experiencing is disinflation—which means that prices are still going up, but they are rising at a slower, more stable pace than the dramatic spikes of previous years.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, consumer prices rose 3.4%. This means that, on average, a basket of goods and services that cost $100 last year now costs about $103.40.

However, your actual receipt in a store will highly depend on what you are buying. Below is a breakdown of what has gotten cheaper and what has gotten more expensive.

🛒 In the Grocery Store (Food at Home)

Overall, grocery store prices rose 2.2% over the last year. But individual categories show major differences:

What is cheaper?

What is more expensive?

👗 In Retail Stores (General Goods)

If you are shopping for clothing, electronics, or vehicles, the price changes are also a mixed bag:

What is cheaper?

What is more expensive?

Summary

While specific items like eggs, used cars, and dairy have actually decreased in price (deflation), the vast majority of items on store shelves—including clothing, beef, vegetables, and household essentials—will still cost you more than they did a year ago.