Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Short answer: It's mixed — overall prices are still higher than a year ago, but some specific grocery items have gotten cheaper.
Overall trend: Prices are higher, not lower
Looking at the broader picture, the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data shows that the all items index rose 3.4 percent for the 12 months ending August as it did for the 12 months ending July. For groceries specifically, the food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year, and the food-at-home CPI was unchanged from June 2026 to July 2026 and 2.7 percent higher than in July 2025.
But it varies a lot by item
While overall grocery prices are up, several specific staples have actually gotten cheaper year-over-year. The latest CPI data from the BLS shows that several everyday grocery staples now cost less than they did a year ago, even though food prices remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and are up 3% over July 2025.
Eggs are the standout example — the USDA projected in early 2026 that egg prices... are poised to drop by 27.4% this year, and a local Minnesota price check found eggs are down from $5.45 in January 2025 to $2.05 in January 2026.
Items that are notably more expensive
On the flip side, several categories are up significantly:
Bottom line
So the answer depends on what you're buying. Broad inflation and overall grocery-store prices are still running about 2.7–3% higher than a year ago. But if you're looking at specific items — especially eggs — you may genuinely see lower prices than last year, while beef, coffee, and some produce are still climbing.
Citations (10)
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M08 Results
Source excerpt: “The all items index rose 3.4 percent for the 12 months ending August as it did for the 12 months ending July. ”
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M08 Results
Source excerpt: “The food index increased 2.7 percent over the last year. ”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI was unchanged from June 2026 to July 2026 and 2.7 percent higher than in July 2025....”
- 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...”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Food prices remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and are up 3% over July 2025 (as of July 2026, the latest data available). ”
- Grocery prices are set to rise in 2026 | Grocery Dive
Source excerpt: “Egg prices, meanwhile, are poised to drop by 27.4% this year, according to the report. ”
- 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. ”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Beef and veal prices increased by 0.2 percent from June 2026 to July 2026 and were 9.4 percent higher in July 2026 than in July 2025. ”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “Coffee prices also continued to climb, with instant coffee up 15.8% year over year, roasted coffee up 12.2%, and coffee overall up 9.4%. ”
- 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....”