Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, overall prices in stores are not lower than they were a year ago. Instead, prices have continued to rise, meaning that a typical cart of groceries or retail goods will cost you more now than it did in 2025.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%. While this is a slower pace of inflation compared to the historic peaks seen in 2022, it still represents a steady increase in the cost of living rather than a drop in prices.

The breakdown of how store prices have changed over the past year highlights several key trends:

1. Grocery Store Prices (Food-at-Home)

On average, grocery store and supermarket prices are about 2.2% to 2.7% higher than they were a year ago. However, the actual impact on your wallet depends heavily on what you are buying:

•What is more expensive:

•Beef and Veal: Prices remain exceptionally high, up more than 9% over the year due to tight cattle supplies and lower domestic beef production.

•Produce: Fresh vegetables are up about 6.3% on average, with staples like fresh tomatoes (up 12.8%) and lettuce (up 7.5%) seeing significant jumps.

•Canned and Imported Goods: Due to the trickle-down impact of shipping, energy costs, and tariffs implemented in 2025, canned fruits, vegetables, and fish are up between 4% and 6%. Nonalcoholic beverages (like coffee and tea) are also up roughly 4.3%.

•What is less expensive:

•Eggs: The biggest exception to rising food prices is eggs. Following the massive spike in egg prices in 2025 caused by bird flu outbreaks, egg prices have collapsed by roughly 30%, bringing much-needed relief to that specific aisle.

•Dairy: Dairy products have mostly stabilized, with some farm-level milk prices dipping slightly compared to last year.

2. Retail and Other Store Goods

Non-grocery items in retail stores have also seen price increases, largely driven by supply chain costs, energy price hikes, and ongoing tariff adjustments from 2025:

•Apparel: Clothing and apparel prices in retail stores have climbed by roughly 3.3%.

•Household Goods & Services: General retail items, recreation goods, and personal care items continue to rise moderately at around 2% to 4%.

•Energy and Transportation: If you are driving to the store, those costs have also increased. Energy prices—including fuel oil and gasoline—saw sharp increases, rising over 16% year-over-year.

Summary

While you might find a few isolated deals or price drops on specific items like eggs, deflation (a widespread drop in prices) has not occurred. Shopping in stores today is overall more expensive than it was a year ago.

Citations (8)

1fastcompany.comNews and mediaquality 0.80
fastcompany.com
Backs: “No, overall prices in stores are not lower than they were a year ago. Instead, prices have continued to rise, meaning that a typical cart of groceries or retail goods will cost you more now than it did in 2025.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Prices have continued to rise, so a typical cart of groceries or retail goods costs more now than in 2025.
2senate.govGovernment
senate.gov
Backs: “According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%.”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: BLS data show overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%.
3bls.govGovernment
bls.gov
Backs: “According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: BLS data show overall consumer prices rose by 3.4%.
4morningstar.comData and tools
morningstar.com
Backs: “While this is a slower pace of inflation compared to the historic peaks seen in 2022, it still represents a steady increase in the cost of living rather than a drop in prices.”
background, article, points to no. Claim: Inflation is slower than 2022 peaks but still a steady increase in cost of living rather than a price drop.
5usda.govGovernment
usda.gov
Backs: “Grocery Store Prices (Food-at-Home). On average, grocery store and supermarket prices are about 2.2% to 2.7% higher than they were a year ago.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Grocery store prices are about 2.2% to 2.7% higher than a year ago.
6agbull.comNews and media
agbull.com
Backs: “However, the actual impact on your wallet depends heavily on what you are buying: What is more expensive: Beef and Veal: Prices remain exceptionally high, up more than 9% over the year due to tight cattle supplies and lower domestic beef production.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Beef and veal prices are up more than 9% due to tight cattle supplies and lower domestic production.
7in2013dollars.comData and tools
in2013dollars.com
Backs: “Retail and Other Store Goods. Non-grocery items in retail stores have also seen price increases, largely driven by supply chain costs, energy price hikes, and ongoing tariff adjustments from 2025: Apparel: Clothing and apparel prices in retail stores have climbed by roughly 3.3%.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Non-grocery retail prices rose, with apparel up roughly 3.3%.
8bls.govGovernment
bls.gov
Backs: “Household Goods & Services: General retail items, recreation goods, and personal care items continue to rise moderately at around 2% to 4%.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: Household goods, recreation goods and personal care items rising moderately at around 2% to 4%.