Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Based on the latest data, the picture is mixed—prices overall are still higher than a year ago, but with a lot of variation by category.

Overall inflation: In the U.S., the annual inflation rate was 3.4% for the 12 months ending August, the same as in July. So on the whole, prices are higher, not lower, than a year ago.

Groceries — a mixed bag:

•The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year, according to BLS data through August 2026.

•However, some specific staples have actually gotten cheaper. The latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that several everyday grocery staples now cost less than they did a year ago. At the same time, other categories continue to head in the opposite direction — not every grocery item is getting cheaper.

•For example, the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, apples cost 11% more, and coffee prices continued to climb, with instant coffee up 15.8% year over year. Meanwhile, beef roasts, steaks, and ground beef all posted increases over the past year.

•On the flip side, local price checks tell a different story for some items — one Minnesota report found eggs down from $5.45 in January 2025 to $2.05 in January 2026, chicken down from $8.85 to $6.91, bread slightly down from $1.87 to $1.57, and milk also slightly down from $3.46 to $3.26.

Bottom line: Nationally, overall prices (as measured by CPI) are still running about 3.4% higher than a year ago, and food prices overall are up roughly 2.7–3%. But within that average, some specific items—like eggs, and a handful of other staples—have actually dropped in price, while others (coffee, beef, tomatoes, apples) have risen sharply. So whether "prices are lower" really depends on which specific products you're looking at, and where you shop.

Citations (8)

1usinflationcalculator.comData and tools
Current U.S. Inflation Rates: 2000-2026
Source excerpt: “Home Inflation and Prices Current U.S. Inflation Rates (2000-2026) The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.4% for the 12 months ending Au...”
2bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M08 Results
Source excerpt: “The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year. ”
3betterreport.comLow provenance
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...”
4betterreport.comLow provenance
Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Other categories, however, continue to head in the opposite direction. ”
5betterreport.comLow provenance
Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Unfortunately for U.S. shoppers, not every grocery item is getting cheaper. ”
6betterreport.comLow provenance
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....”
7betterreport.comLow provenance
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. ”
8cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
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. Chicken is down from $8.85 to $6.91. Bread is slightly down from $1.87 ...”