Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: No. On average, prices in U.S. stores are higher than a year ago.

•Overall consumer prices were up 3.7% in September 2026 versus September 2025.[1]

•For “in-store” groceries (food at home), prices were up 1.8% year over year. Within that, meats/poultry/fish/eggs were roughly flat (+0.3%) and dairy was slightly lower (−0.7%).[1]

•Many nonfood goods sold in stores were close to flat, with “commodities less food and energy” up about 0.7% year over year.[1]

If you have specific items or a city in mind, I can check those details.

Citations (1)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Overall consumer prices were up 3.7% in September 2026 versus September 2025.”