Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Looking up whether store prices have fallen since last year — I'll pull the latest inflation and retail data.

No - in aggregate prices in stores are higher than a year ago, not lower. Inflation has cooled somewhat from 2022-2023 peaks but year-over-year change remains positive.

•The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted in August and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted

> The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August after rising 0.1 percent in July...Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.4 percent

> The all items index rose 3.4 percent for the 12 months ending August as it did for the 12 months ending July

> The all items less food and energy index rose 2.4 percent over the year

> The energy index increased 16.3 percent for the 12 months ending August

> The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year

For groceries specifically:

> The Consumer Price Index for food at home was unchanged from July to August...For the 12-month period through August, grocery-price inflation was up 2.2%, compared with 3.4% inflation overall

Table shows:

> Food | 0.1 | 2.7
> Food at home | 0.0 | 2.2
> Food away from home | 0.3 | 3.4

Other surveys consistent:

> Over the past 12 months, prices for everyday household purchases are up 1.8%

> The food at home index rose 2.2 percent over the 12 months ending in August

A few individual store categories were lower than a year ago, which does not make the overall basket lower:

•Used cars and trucks -2.3% year-over-year

•Medical care commodities -2.7% year-over-year

•Dairy and related products fell 0.3 percent over the year

•Fruits and vegetables index declined 0.4 percent in August after falling in the preceding 2 months. The index for lettuce continued to fall, declining 6.2 percent in August after decreasing 16.4 percent in July

Citations (3)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index (CPI) News Release : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Backs: “No - in aggregate prices in stores are higher than a year ago, not lower. Inflation has cooled somewhat from 2022-2023 peaks but year-over-year change remains positive. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted in August and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not…”
2bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M08 Results
Backs: “The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted in August and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in August after rising 0.1 percent in…”
3supermarketnews.comNews and media
Grocery inflation flat in August, up 2.2% for the year
Backs: “The energy index increased 16.3 percent for the 12 months ending August. The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year. For groceries specifically: The Consumer Price Index for food at home was unchanged from July to August...For the 12-month period through August, grocery-price inflation was up 2.2%,…”