Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Checking whether store prices are down from last year — pulling latest inflation data now.

No. Prices in stores are not lower than a year ago on average — they are higher, but the rate of increase has slowed.

•Overall consumer prices: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, after rising 0.4 percent in August. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.0 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The same September report notes the all items index rose 3.0 percent for the 12 months ending September, after rising 2.9 percent over the 12 months ending August.

•Later data shows the same pattern — still positive inflation, but slower: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a year-on-year rise of 2.7% in headline consumer prices for November 2025, and for the full year The Consumer Price Index for all items rose 2.7 percent from December 2024 to December 2025.

•Grocery / store food prices specifically:

•Food at home prices were 2.7 percent higher than a year earlier in the August 2024 to August 2025 report.

•Grocery prices rose 0.3%, less than in August, and are 2.7% higher than a year ago in September.

•In detail for September: The index for food at home rose 2.7 percent over the 12 months ending in September.

•The food index increased 3.1 percent over the last year, reflecting a 2.4-percent increase in prices for food at home and a 4.1-percent increase in prices for food away from home.

•A few isolated store categories did fall year-over-year, but not the total basket:

•Dairy and related products prices declined 0.9 percent, after rising 1.3 percent in 2024

•Gasoline (all types) prices continued to decline, falling 3.4 percent in 2025

•Apparel at -0.1 percent 12-months ended Sep 2025

This is the distinction between disinflation and deflation:

> Lower inflation = prices are rising more slowly ... Deflation = prices are actually falling

> US inflation hit 9.1% in June 2022, the fastest since 1981, then slowed to around 3%, but prices stayed up: about 28% above January 2021 (BLS, August 2026) ... Falling inflation (disinflation) is not falling prices (deflation)

Citations (2)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release
Backs: “Prices in stores are not lower than a year ago on average — they are higher, but the rate of increase has slowed. Overall consumer prices: The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, after rising 0.4 percent in August.”
2bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index: 2025 in review
Backs: “Later data shows the same pattern — still positive inflation, but slower: The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a year-on-year rise of 2.7% in headline consumer prices for November 2025, and for the full year The Consumer Price Index for all items rose 2.7 percent from December 2024 to December 2025.”