Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Are store prices down from last year? I'll check the latest inflation and retail data.

No, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago - they are still higher, though the rate of increase has slowed for some categories.

•Headline inflation is still positive year-over-year:

•All items CPI rose 3.4% over the last 12 months in August 2026

•In August, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months

•Headline inflation held steady at 3.4% year-over-year in August, the same 3.4% rate as the prior month

•Grocery / Food-at-home prices specifically are also higher than a year ago:

•Food +2.7% year over year

•Food at home +2.2%

•The U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting that grocery prices will rise approximately 1.7% in 2026

•In January 2026, prices for everyday goods are up 1.8% versus a year ago

•A 2.8% annual grocery rate means the average basket still costs more than it did a year ago; it simply rose more slowly

What has changed is disinflation - prices are rising more slowly than before, not falling.

A few specific store categories and items have fallen year-over-year, so you may see lower prices on some shelves:

•Dairy and related products -0.3%

•Used cars and trucks -2.3%

•Medical care commodities -2.7%

•Motor vehicle insurance -5.1%

For groceries, year-over-year declines were reported for:

•Butter (-8.1%)

•Salad dressing (-4.3%), Cheese and related products (-4.2%), Fresh whole chicken (-3.2%) and others

But most grocery categories are still up, e.g. tomatoes up 12.8% year over year, apples up 11%.

Citations (3)

1bls.govGovernment
12-month percentage change, Consumer Price Index, selected categories
Backs: “No, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago - they are still higher, though the rate of increase has slowed for some categories. Headline inflation is still positive year-over-year:”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Headline inflation is still positive year-over-year, with overall prices up and some categories showing 12-month changes.
2bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index (CPI) News Release : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Backs: “Headline inflation is still positive year-over-year: All items CPI rose 3.4% over the last 12 months in August 2026. In August, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: All items CPI rose 3.4% over the last 12 months in August 2026, with a 0.4 percent monthly rise.
3betterreport.comLow provenance
Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Backs: “Motor vehicle insurance -5.1%”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Some specific items and categories, such as motor vehicle insurance, dairy and certain groceries, have fallen year-over-year.