More answers like this
Muse Spark 1.2Oct 2, 2026meta/muse-spark-1.2-20260805

Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Checking if store prices are down from a year ago — pulling the latest inflation and price data.

No — prices in stores are still higher than a year ago overall, although the rate of increase has cooled.

In the U.S.:

•The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted in August.
•Annual inflation rose to 3% in September from 2.9% in August
•Topline CPI gained 2.4% in January 2026 versus one year ago

For groceries / everyday store purchases:

•Over the past year, overall food prices advanced 2.7%, Grocery prices rose 2.2% down from 2.7% prior month but still up year-over-year.
•Grocery inflation slowed to 2.2 percent year over year from 2.7 percent the prior month
•Prices for everyday household purchases are up 1.8% vs. year ago, even after Prices for everyday household purchases declined 0.23% in January 2026 month-over-month — first monthly decline in nearly a year.
•Grocery prices have increased 3.4% on average since January 2025 through August 2026, Overall consumer prices are up 4.8% over the same time period

Some individual items are lower than a year ago, which does not make the overall basket lower:

•Egg prices are down big since January 2025, 31.1%, and Egg prices ... are now down 45 percent compared to a year ago, while Dairy prices overall are down 1.6 percent year-over-year
•Cheese prices have dropped 4.4 percent

But fewer items have dropped than risen — Five of the six overarching categories of grocery products tracked by the Consumer Price Index are up substantially since January 2025

A 2.8% annual grocery rate means the average basket still costs more than it did a year ago; it simply rose more slowly

Citations (4)

  1. 1bls.govGovernment
    Consumer Price Index (CPI) News Release

    Backs: “No — prices in stores are still higher than a year ago overall, although the rate of increase has cooled. In the U.S.: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted in August.”

  2. 2fxstreet.comData and tools
    Consumer Price Index rises 3% in September vs. 3.1% forecast

    Backs: “The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted in August.”

  3. 3pnc.comNot yet classified
    PNC Economics Research - Consumer Price Inflation - 13 February 2026

    Backs: “The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted in August. Annual inflation rose to 3% in September from 2.9% in August”

  4. 4kioncentralcoast.comNews and media
    Fact check: Trump lies again that grocery prices ‘have come way down’ this term

    Backs: “year ago, even after Prices for everyday household purchases declined 0.23% in January 2026 month-over-month — first monthly decline in nearly a year.”