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GPT-5Sep 23, 2026openai/gpt-5-2025-08-07
Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
No
Short answer: generally no. On average, prices in U.S. stores are higher than a year ago.
•Overall consumer prices were up 3.4% in August 2026 versus August 2025.[1]
•Grocery store prices (“food at home”) were up about 2.2% year over year in August 2026. Restaurant prices (“food away from home”) were up 3.4%.[1]
Some store-bought items did fall: for example, used cars were about 2.3% cheaper year over year in August, and smartphone prices were down roughly 12%. But those are exceptions, not the rule.[1]
If you have a specific category (e.g., groceries, electronics, clothing), I can pull the latest numbers for that.
Citations (1)
- Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M08 Results
Backs: “Overall consumer prices were up 3.4% in August 2026 versus August 2025.”
statistic, official document, points to yes. Claim: Some store-bought items fell: used cars about 2.3% cheaper and smartphones down roughly 12% year over year.