Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago; they are higher on average, according to the latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.[1]

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending August 2026 (not seasonally adjusted). This measures the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a broad basket of goods and services, including many items bought in retail and grocery stores.[1]

Key details relevant to store prices:

•Food overall: +2.7% year-over-year.[1]

•Food at home (groceries/supermarket items): +2.2%. Within this:

•Fruits and vegetables: +3.2%

•Nonalcoholic beverages: +3.7%

•Cereals and bakery products: +2.6%

•Other food at home: +2.4%

•Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: +1.1%

•Dairy and related products: -0.3% (one of the few declines).[1]

•Food away from home (restaurants, etc.): +3.4%.[1]

•Core inflation (all items less food and energy): +2.4%.[1]

•Energy: +16.3% (driven heavily by gasoline +27.4%), which affects transportation and some store costs but is not a direct “in-store” retail goods measure.[1]

•Other store-relevant categories: Apparel +3.6%; commodities less food and energy commodities +0.7%. Some items declined, such as used cars and trucks (-2.3%) and medical care commodities (-2.7%).[2]

In short, the typical basket of goods people buy in stores (especially groceries) costs more than a year earlier, though the rate of increase has moderated compared to the high-inflation period of 2021–2023, and specific items or categories can vary (some down, many up). Monthly changes can fluctuate, and individual store pricing, sales, private-label/store brands, promotions, or regional differences may make some shopping experiences feel cheaper.

Citations (2)

1bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
Backs: “No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago; they are higher on average, according to the latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.”
2bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
Backs: “Some items declined, such as used cars and trucks (-2.3%) and medical care commodities (-2.7%).”