Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Overall, No — Prices Are Still Higher Than a Year Ago, Though Some Items Have Gotten Cheaper

The short answer is that most prices in U.S. stores are still higher than a year ago, though the rate of increase has slowed and a handful of specific items have actually gotten cheaper.

The Big Picture: Inflation Is Still Positive

In line with estimates, the headline annual inflation rate held at 3.4% for the 12 months ending in August, unchanged from July. This means, on average, prices across the economy are 3.4% higher than they were a year ago — not lower. Core inflation rose 2.4% over the 12 months through August — the lowest core inflation rate since March 2021.

What's Happening at Grocery Stores Specifically

Grocery prices tell a mixed story:

Some items have gotten cheaper: The latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that several everyday grocery staples now cost less than they did a year ago. For example, a Minnesota price check found eggs down from $5.45 in January 2025 to $2.05 in January 2026, and chicken down from $8.85 to $6.91.

But many items are still rising: the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, while apples cost 11% more in July 2026 than they did in July 2025... instant coffee up 15.8% year over year, roasted coffee up 12.2%. Beef has also jumped significantly, with beef roasts up 13.5%, steaks up 9.6%, and ground beef up 9% over the past year.

By the Numbers: A Split Picture

Looking at broader BLS tracking, roughly 3 out of every 4 items (76 percent) BLS tracks increased in price between last July and this July, while about 1 in 4 (25 percent) were actually cheaper.

What Consumers Are Feeling

Many shoppers still perceive prices as elevated. In Las Vegas, for instance, one shopper said, "It makes me feel terrible because I am spending more for food now, versus, let's say, a year ago."

Bottom Line

Retailers aren't broadly lowering prices — rather, some are working to slow the pace of increases through promotions. As one retail analyst put it regarding UK/US-style pricing trends, "Shop price inflation remains lower than a year ago, which will help shoppers as they manage other increases in household spend." That means inflation is decelerating, not reversing — prices are still going up, just not as fast as before.

So while a few grocery staples (like eggs and chicken) have gotten notably cheaper, the overall trend is that prices remain higher than a year ago, with the annual inflation rate sitting around 3.4%.