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 moderately higher on average, though the rate of increase has slowed significantly from the high-inflation period of recent years, and results vary widely by category and item.[1]

Latest U.S. Data (as of August 2026 CPI)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI-U):

•All items: +3.4% year-over-year.[1]

•Food at home (groceries): +2.2% YoY (unchanged month-over-month in August). Subcategories include cereals/bakery (+2.6%), meats/poultry/fish/eggs (+1.1%), fruits/vegetables (+3.2%), nonalcoholic beverages (+3.7%), other food at home (+2.4%), and dairy (-0.3%).[1]

•Commodities less food and energy (core goods, covering many non-food store items like apparel, household goods, vehicles, etc.): +0.7% YoY.[1]

•Apparel: +3.6%

•New vehicles: +0.6%

•Used cars and trucks: -2.3%

•Medical care commodities: -2.7%[2]

Energy prices (which affect some store-related costs like transportation) rose sharply (+16.3% overall, with gasoline +27.4%), contributing to broader pressure.[1]

Other trackers align with this: Everyday goods prices were up about 2.2% YoY in one recent report (with some monthly declines), and specific grocery baskets can show mixed or even slightly lower results depending on the items selected (e.g., one 24-item staple basket was reported down ~2% YoY in a recent month amid promotions).[3][4]

Context and Nuances

•Cooling but not deflation overall: Inflation has moderated from peaks above 9% earlier in the decade. Goods prices (what you typically buy in stores) have been much softer than services (housing, healthcare, etc.), which continue to drive more of the overall CPI. In 2024, many retailers (Walmart, Target, etc.) actively cut prices on thousands of items amid consumer pushback and competition, leading to periods of goods deflation or near-stability in some categories.[5][6]

•Mixed item-level changes: Some products are cheaper YoY (e.g., certain meats, produce, used vehicles, or eggs after avian flu spikes resolved in some periods), while others like beef, beverages, or apparel are higher. Shoppers often notice the cumulative rise since pre-pandemic levels (groceries roughly +30%+ since 2020) more than the milder recent YoY changes. Shrinkflation (smaller packages at similar prices) has also played a role historically.[7][8]

•Retailer behavior: Heavy promotions, rollbacks, and private-label options continue to help offset costs for many shoppers. Experiences vary by store, location, and shopping habits (e.g., discount vs. premium retailers).

•Outside the U.S.: In the UK, shop price inflation was recently around +1.4% YoY (food higher at ~2.5%, non-food lower), eased by promotions but still positive.[9]

In short, while many individual items or promotional deals may feel cheaper and goods inflation is low, broad store prices (especially groceries) remain higher than a year ago on average. Check current local prices or apps for specific comparisons, as they fluctuate. Data is primarily U.S.-focused from official BLS sources; the next CPI release (for September) is scheduled around mid-October.

Citations (9)

1bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t01.htm
Backs: “No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago—they are moderately higher on average, though the rate of increase has slowed significantly from the high-inflation period of recent years, and results vary widely by category and item.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: BLS CPI shows all items +3.4% YoY, food at home +2.2%, core goods +0.7%, energy sharply higher.
2bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/charts/cpi-cpi_rc_1cpibycat.stm
Backs: “Medical care commodities: -2.7%”
statistic, data page, neutral. Claim: Category changes: apparel +3.6%, new vehicles +0.6%, used cars -2.3%, medical care commodities -2.7%.
3supermarketnews.comNews and media
https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-trends-data/price-of-everyday-goods-drops-for-second-straight-month
Backs: “Everyday goods prices were up about 2.2% YoY in one recent report (with some monthly declines), and specific grocery baskets can show mixed or even slightly lower results depending on the items selected (e.g., one 24-item staple basket was reported down ~2% YoY in a recent month amid promotions).”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: Everyday goods prices were up about 2.2% YoY in a recent report, with some monthly declines.
4basketreport.comNews and media
https://basketreport.com/
Backs: “Everyday goods prices were up about 2.2% YoY in one recent report (with some monthly declines), and specific grocery baskets can show mixed or even slightly lower results depending on the items selected (e.g., one 24-item staple basket was reported down ~2% YoY in a recent month amid promotions).”
evidence, home page, points to yes. Claim: One 24-item staple basket was reported down about 2% YoY amid promotions.
5retailbrew.comNews and media
https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/12/18/2024-was-the-year-of-discounts-price-cuts-and-more-affordable-assortments
Backs: “In 2024, many retailers (Walmart, Target, etc.) actively cut prices on thousands of items amid consumer pushback and competition, leading to periods of goods deflation or near-stability in some categories.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: In 2024 retailers cut prices on thousands of items, producing goods deflation or stability in some categories.
6investopedia.comCommercial contentquality 0.93
https://www.investopedia.com/shoppers-could-be-seeing-lower-prices-this-holiday-season-8729096
Backs: “In 2024, many retailers (Walmart, Target, etc.) actively cut prices on thousands of items amid consumer pushback and competition, leading to periods of goods deflation or near-stability in some categories.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Retailers like Walmart and Target cut prices amid consumer pushback and competition.
7npr.orgNews and mediaquality 0.93
https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5241014
Backs: “Shrinkflation (smaller packages at similar prices) has also played a role historically.”
evidence, article, neutral. Claim: Some items are cheaper year over year while others are higher; shrinkflation and cumulative increases since 2020 matter.
8al.comNews and mediaquality 0.89
https://www.al.com/news/2026/09/grocery-costs-remained-flat-in-august-but-are-still-more-expensive-in-2026.html
Backs: “Shrinkflation (smaller packages at similar prices) has also played a role historically.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Grocery costs were flat in August but remain more expensive than a year ago.
9retail-insight-network.comNews and media
https://www.retail-insight-network.com/news/uk-shop-price-inflation-eases-to-1-4-in-september/
Backs: “In the UK, shop price inflation was recently around +1.4% YoY (food higher at ~2.5%, non-food lower), eased by promotions but still positive.”
statistic, article, points to no. Claim: UK shop price inflation was about +1.4% YoY, food higher, non-food lower, still positive.