Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
No, overall prices are not lower in stores compared to a year ago — but the picture is mixed depending on the category.
Overall Inflation
Broadly, prices are still higher than a year ago. The all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.3 percent from July 2026 to August 2026, and was up 3.4 percent from August 2025.
Grocery/Food Prices Specifically
Food-at-home prices are also higher year-over-year, though the increase has been modest:
A Mixed Bag by Item
While the overall grocery basket costs more, some individual items have gotten cheaper:
On the flip side, other items have jumped sharply: the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, apples cost 11% more, instant coffee is up 15.8% year over year, and roasted coffee is up 12.2%. Beef products have also risen notably, with beef roasts up 13.5%, steaks up 9.6%, and ground beef up 9% over the past year.
Bottom Line
As one analysis put it, grocery prices are rising more slowly, but groceries are not getting cheaper overall. And looking ahead, USDA's current forecast points to another increase in average grocery prices in 2026, projecting food-at-home prices will rise 2.5% on average for the year compared with 2025.
So while a handful of specific grocery items (like eggs, lettuce, and dairy) may be cheaper than last year, prices in stores overall — both for groceries and the broader economy — remain higher than a year ago, just rising at a somewhat slower pace than in previous years.
Citations (10)
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.3 percent from July 2026 to August 2026. It was up 3.4 perc...”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “The U.S. food-at-home price index was unchanged in August 2026 and stood 2.2% above its August 2025 level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics...”
- Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The CPI for all food increased 0.1 percent from July 2026 to August 2026. Food prices in August 2026 were 2.7 percent higher ... ”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “Some foods cost less than they did a year ago. Across the grocery basket, prices remain higher. ”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “Fruit and vegetable prices fell 0.4% for the month, including a 6.2% decline in lettuce prices. At the same time, egg prices rose 2.9%, while dairy ...”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “Over the preceding 12 months, dairy prices were down 0.3%, but fruits and vegetables were up 3.2% and nonalcoholic beverages were up 3.7%. ”
- 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....”
- 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. ”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “Grocery prices are rising more slowly, but groceries are not getting cheaper overall. ”
- Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “A shopper who buys a lot of one category can reas USDA’s current forecast points to another increase in average grocery prices in 2026, not a broad d...”