Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Short answer: mostly no.
In the U.S., the overall consumer price index was 3.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, and grocery prices (“food at home”) were up about 2.2% year over year.[1]
Some store items are cheaper than a year ago—for example, the dairy index was down 0.3% year over year in August, and egg prices were down sharply versus last August. But on balance, prices in stores are still higher than a year ago.[2]
If you had a specific type of store or product in mind (e.g., groceries vs. clothing or electronics), I can pull the latest category numbers.
Citations (2)
- Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M08 Results
Backs: “In the U.S., the overall consumer price index was 3.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, and grocery prices (“food at home”) were up about 2.2% year over year.”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: Overall CPI was 3.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier, and food at home was up about 2.2% year over year.
- Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M08 Results
Backs: “But on balance, prices in stores are still higher than a year ago.”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: Some store items are cheaper than a year ago, such as dairy down 0.3% and eggs down sharply, though prices are higher overall.