Prices - I'll check if stores are cheaper than a year ago.
No - in general prices in stores are higher than a year ago, not lower - although inflation has moderated from peak rates and a few specific categories are cheaper.
•The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures prices for goods and services including groceries, rose 3% from last year in September 2026 , the fastest annual pace since the year began and the third consecutive month of higher inflation. The CPI rose 0.3% on a monthly basis in September.
•Grocery / store prices specifically:
•Grocery prices rose 0.3% in September on monthly basis, less than in August, and are 2.7% higher than a year ago.
•Food-at-home inflation for the full year was up 2.7%, which lagged the overall Consumer Price Index increase of 3%.
•In another measure, prices for everyday household purchases / everyday goods are up 2.2% versus a year ago in August.
•Bureau of Labor Statistics data for June 2025 to June 2026: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 3.5 percent from June 2025 to June 2026. Food prices rose 3.0 percent over the year ended June 2026, with food at home prices rising 2.7 percent.
•Over the past year, the food index is up 3.1%, with grocery costs up 2.7%.
•Even as month-to-month held steady, food-at-home remained 2.2 percent above the level recorded a year earlier in August data.
In other words, the rate of increase has slowed but prices are still up year-over-year on top of several years of increases.
Exceptions / where some prices are lower:
•A few categories have deflated vs last year: e.g. a dozen large Grade A eggs costs $2.58, down almost 50% year-over-year — or a difference of $2.38 per dozen. USDA forecasts dairy products actually expected to deflate, by 0.9% and egg prices expected to decline in 2026 compared to 2025.
•Some retailers are cutting prices to compete for value-seeking shoppers: Aldi said it would lower prices on a range of grocery items in the U.S. this fall, a move the company estimates will save shoppers about $86 million - but that is a promotional cut against current elevated levels, not an indication that overall store prices are below year-ago levels.
So shoppers may see lower prices on select items like eggs, but the average basket costs more than a year ago.