Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?
Short answer: It's mixed — overall, no, but some specific items are cheaper
Overall inflation is still positive, not negative. Nationally, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, and over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.7 percent before seasonal adjustment. That means, on average, prices across the economy are higher than a year ago — in fact inflation has been accelerating, since the all items index rose 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending September, a larger increase than the 3.4-percent increase reported for the 12 months ending in August. Much of the recent jump is energy-driven: the index for gasoline rose 9.1 percent in September, accounting for over half of the monthly all items increase.
However, grocery/food-at-home prices have been roughly flat month-to-month, and some individual items are indeed cheaper than a year ago:
But other items are still rising. For example, the same BLS data showing some discounts also noted the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, while apples cost 11% more in July 2026 than they did in July 2025, and overall ground beef rose the most between 2025 and 2026, from $5.55 to $6.75, a 21.8% increase.
Bottom line: Broad-based "prices" in the economy (CPI) are not lower than a year ago — they're up about 3.7% overall. But in the grocery aisle specifically, it's a mixed bag: eggs, chicken, butter, cheese, bread, bacon, and coffee have gotten cheaper over the past year, while beef, tomatoes, apples, and bananas have gotten more expensive. Experts generally caution not to expect broad price declines — as one analysis put it, economists say that grocery prices may "never" come down in aggregate, even when individual items see temporary relief.
Citations (12)
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M09 Results
Source excerpt: “_______________ The Consumer Price Index news release for October 2026 is scheduled ... # Consumer Price Index Summary ``` Transmission of material i...”
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M09 Results
Source excerpt: “The all items index rose 3.7 percent for the 12 months ending September, a larger increase than the 3.4-percent increase reported for the 12 months e...”
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M09 Results
Source excerpt: “The index for gasoline rose 9.1 percent in September, accounting for over half of the monthly all items increase. ”
- Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M09 Results
Source excerpt: “The index for food was unchanged in September, as the index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent and the index for food at home fell 0.1 per...”
- Are groceries more expensive than last year?
Source excerpt: “Eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, bread and chicken were all cheaper as of January 2026 than a year prior. Egg prices decreased the most (-48.0%), followed by...”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “## What’s Getting Cheaper ### Reader Favorites • Butter (-8.1%) • Salad dressing (-4.3%) • Cheese and related products (-4.2%) • Fresh whole chicken (...”
- Price Tracker September 2026: Grocery basket totals drop slightly from last month
Source excerpt: “It’s not a huge difference from August, but it’s roughly 3.6% lower than last year this time and the 7th cheapest since we started the WREG Price Trac...”
- Price Tracker September 2026: Grocery basket totals drop slightly from last month
Source excerpt: “Our average across Kroger, Walmart, and Target was $1.72, but that price is still nearly 40% cheaper than last year’s price at this same time. ”
- Price Tracker September 2026: Grocery basket totals drop slightly from last month
Source excerpt: “Orange juice is also down compared to last year, so is bacon, and believe it or not, so is coffee!”
- Some Grocery Prices Are Finally Going Down — Here’s What’s Getting Cheaper - Better Report
Source excerpt: “According to the latest BLS data, the cost of tomatoes is up 12.8% year over year, while apples cost 11% more in July 2026 than they did in July 2025.”
- Are groceries more expensive than last year?
Source excerpt: “Out of nine grocery staples defined by the BLS, the cost of a pound of ground beef rose the most between 2025 and 2026, from $5.55 to $6.75, a 21.8% i...”
- Good News for Your Wallet: These 6 Things Will Get Cheaper in 2026
Source excerpt: “## Other food items Overall, economists say that grocery prices may "never" come down. ”