Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Mixed Picture: Overall Prices Are Higher, But Some Items Are Cheaper

The short answer is: no, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago — they're still rising, just more slowly in some cases. However, it's a mixed bag depending on what you're buying.

Overall Inflation Trend

The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.4% for the 12 months ending August, the same as in July, according to U.S. Labor Department data released September 11, 2026. For food specifically, the average price of food in the United States rose by 2.7% in the 12 months ending August, after posting an annual increase of 3% for July.

What's More Expensive Than a Year Ago

Several major grocery categories are up significantly. Five of the six overarching categories of grocery products tracked by the Consumer Price Index are up substantially since January 2025: cereals and bakery products (up 3.3%); meats, poultry, fish and eggs (up 3%); fruits and vegetables (up 4.6%); nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials (up 6.3%); and "other food at home" (up 3%).

Beef has been hit especially hard — beef and veal continue to stand out in the USDA outlook, with prices forecast to rise 9.4% this year.

What's Actually Cheaper

Eggs are the standout exception. August CPI data showed US food-at-home prices 2.2% higher than a year earlier, but within that, eggs have reversed sharply — prices for eggs and fats and oils are forecast to decline in 2026 compared to 2025.

A broader market basket check found similar relief: 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 a year ago, including butter (-8.1%), salad dressing (-4.3%), cheese and related products (-4.2%), fresh whole chicken (-3.2%), and bacon and related products (-2.8%).

A local store price-tracking report from September 2026 echoed this: the grocery basket total was roughly 3.6% lower than last year this time, with egg prices still nearly 40% cheaper than last year's price at this same time, and orange juice also down compared to last year, so is bacon, and believe it or not, so is coffee.

Looking Ahead

Don't expect broad relief soon. The USDA cut its 2026 forecast for food-at-home inflation to 2.4%, while putting all-food inflation at 2.9% and food-away-from-home inflation at 3.5%. As one economist bluntly put it, economists say that grocery prices may "never" come down — the pattern is more about inflation slowing rather than prices actually dropping.

Bottom line: Walk into most stores today and your total grocery bill is likely higher than a year ago, driven by beef, vegetables, and beverages. But if you're buying eggs, butter, cheese, chicken, or bacon, you may actually be paying less than you were 12 months ago.