Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: Mostly no, but it's mixed — a few specific items are cheaper while overall prices are still higher

Overall inflation is still positive, not negative. The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending September, up from 3.4% in August, according to U.S. Labor Department data released October 14, 2026. So on the whole, store prices are higher, not lower, than a year ago.

Grocery prices: a mixed bag

Overall grocery/food-at-home prices are still up year-over-year, though modestly:

•Overall, grocery prices dropped 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, leaving them 1.8% higher than a year earlier, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data showed.

•Over the past 12 months, grocery prices have risen 1.8%, roughly half the pace of menu price inflation.

But several individual items have genuinely gotten cheaper:

•Egg prices plummeted more than 20% over the year ending in September. Butter prices plunged 10.3% last month compared to a year earlier, while prices for ice cream, milk and cheese each fell more than 2% over that period.

•Bacon costs 3.3% less than it did a year ago, while chicken prices fell in September, though they still stand 1.3% higher than a year ago.

What's still going up

Not everything is cheaper — and some things are rising sharply:

•Prices climbed for the likes of coffee, candy and fresh fruit.

•Gasoline has been a major driver pushing overall inflation higher: gasoline prices surged 9.1% in September and stood 34.2% above year-ago levels, adding to headline inflation and putting further pressure on household budgets.

•Restaurant/menu prices are also up more than groceries: compared with a year earlier, menu prices were up 3.5% in September.

Bottom line

If you're asking specifically about groceries, you'll likely notice relief on eggs, dairy, butter, chicken, and bacon, but overall your grocery bill is still running about 1.8% higher than a year ago. If you're asking about prices in general (including gas, restaurants, and other goods), they are clearly higher than a year ago — inflation has actually been accelerating recently, hitting 3.7% annually in September, up from 3.4% the prior month.

Citations (8)

1usinflationcalculator.comData and tools
Current U.S. Inflation Rates: 2000-2026
Source excerpt: “The annual inflation rate in the United States was 3.7% for the 12 months ending September, up from 3.4% in August, according to U.S. Labor Department...”
2abcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.67
Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “Overall, grocery prices dropped 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, leaving them 1.8% higher than a year earlier, U.S. Bureau of Labor S...”
3restaurant.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Menu Prices
Source excerpt: “Over the past 12 months, grocery prices have risen 1.8%, roughly half the pace of menu price inflation. ”
4abcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.67
Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “Egg prices plummeted more than 20% over the year ending in September, indicating continued recovery from a shortage caused by an outbreak of bird flu....”
5abcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.67
Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “The cooldown in meat prices hit a range of products, including bacon, which costs 3.3% less than it did a year ago. Chicken prices fell in September, ...”
6abcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.67
Which grocery prices are rising the fastest and which are falling? - ABC News
Source excerpt: “However, prices climbed for the likes of coffee, candy and fresh fruit. ”
7restaurant.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Menu Prices
Source excerpt: “Higher energy costs drove much of the increase, with gasoline prices surging 9.1% in September and standing 34.2% above year-ago levels, adding to hea...”
8restaurant.orgNonprofits and think tanks
Menu Prices
Source excerpt: “Compared with a year earlier, menu prices were up 3.5% in September. ”