Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Based on the latest data, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago — they're still higher, though the pace of increase has slowed compared to the inflation spikes of 2022.
Overall Picture
Grocery prices (food-at-home) are up, not down:
Restaurant/takeout prices are also higher: The food-away-from-home CPI increased 0.3 percent from June 2026 to July 2026 and was 3.4 percent higher than in July 2025.
But Some Individual Items ARE Cheaper
The picture is mixed depending on the specific product:
Notable price drops: Eggs have fallen sharply — on average, eggs are down from $5.45 in January 2025 to $2.05 in January 2026 at some Twin Cities stores. Chicken prices also dropped in that same local check, going down from $8.85 to $6.91.
Notable price increases: Meanwhile, other staples continue climbing — 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, and instant coffee up 15.8% year over year. Beef remains a major pressure point, with beef roasts up 13.5%, steaks up 9.6%, and ground beef up 9% over the past year.
Retailer-Specific Moves
Some retailers are actively cutting prices even as the broader trend runs upward. Walmart, for instance, has rolled back prices on thousands of items, partly using windfalls: "They got nearly $3 billion of tariff refunds in Q2," and Walmart said they were going to use some of those refunds to lower prices, according to CFRA's Arun Sundaram. Walmart rolled back prices on 7,200 items at the beginning of the year, then did it again on 11,000 more items — even as industry-wide grocery costs kept rising.
Bottom Line
For most goods and at most stores, prices are higher than a year ago, though the year-over-year increases have moderated compared to the peak inflation of 2022. A minority of specific items (like eggs) have seen real price declines, and some individual retailers are cutting prices on select products to attract cost-conscious shoppers — but this doesn't reflect the overall trend.
Citations (12)
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M08 Results
Source excerpt: “The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year. ”
- Food Inflation in the United States (1968-2026)
Source excerpt: “The average price of food in the United States rose by 2.7% in the 12 months ending August, after posting an annual increase of 3% for July, according...”
- Latest Inflation Statistics: The Prices Rising And Falling Most | Bankrate
Source excerpt: “Grocery prices (formally known as food at home) rose 2.2 percent from a year ago and are about 28 percent more expensive than they were before the pan...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-away-from-home (restaurant and other foodservice purchases) CPI increased 0.3 percent from June 2026 to July 2026 and was 3.4 percent higher ...”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “The latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that several everyday grocery staples now cost less than they did...”
- Latest Inflation Statistics: The Prices Rising And Falling Most | Bankrate
Source excerpt: “Of the nearly 400 items that BLS tracks, roughly 3 out of every 4 items (or 76 percent) increased in price between July 2024 and July 2025. One in 4 (...”
- Costs appear to be down compared to a year ago for food staples in Twin Cities
Source excerpt: “On average, eggs are down from $5.45 in January 2025 to $2.05 in January 2026. ”
- Costs appear to be down compared to a year ago for food staples in Twin Cities
Source excerpt: “Chicken is down from $8.85 to $6.91. ”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “According to the latest BLS data, 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....”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Beef roasts (up 13.5%), steaks (+9.6%), and ground beef (+9%) all posted increases over the past year. ”
- While grocery costs rise, Walmart announces price cuts
Source excerpt: ““They got nearly $3 billion of tariff refunds in Q2,” Sundaram said. “Walmart said that they were going to at least use some of the tariff refunds tha...”
- While grocery costs rise, Walmart announces price cuts
Source excerpt: “At the beginning of the year, Walmart said it rolled back prices on 7,200 items. Then, the company announced in its last earnings call that it did it ...”