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Muse Spark 1.2Oct 19, 2026meta/muse-spark-1.2-20260805

Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Your question about store prices vs a year ago - I'll check the latest inflation and pricing data.

No - in general prices in stores are still higher than a year ago, even though the rate of increase has slowed and some items are cheaper month-to-month.

•Overall US consumer prices: In the 12 months through September, the CPI advanced 3.7% after rising 3.4% in August.

The September increase was 0.6% for the month, driven by a 9.1% surge in fuel prices.

•Grocery / Food-at-home prices:
•Grocery store prices dipped 0.1% over the month but rose 1.8% year on year.
•Food prices unchanged for the month and 2.5% higher than a year ago.
•The food-at-home index, which represents grocery prices, showed a decline of 0.1% last month and Food-at-home is 1.8% higher since September 2025

As one analysis noted:

> A lower annual inflation rate is not the same as cheaper groceries than a year ago. Average food-at-home prices remained 1.8% above September 2025 despite the monthly decline.

And more generally:

> Inflation measures how quickly prices change, not whether they have returned to an earlier level. A 2.8% annual grocery rate means the average basket still costs more than it did a year ago

So a falling inflation rate does not mean prices have fallen - prices have not fallen.

Some exceptions where specific store items are lower than a year ago:

•Pork is now 0.7% cheaper than a year ago
•Prices for bacon and related products ... are now 3.3% lower from 12 months ago
•Prices for lunchmeats ... are now 3.4% lower from 12 months ago
•Consumers paid lower prices for used cars and trucks (−1.9 percent) and medical care commodities (−2.7 percent) in July 2026 compared with a year earlier

But for the average basket, you are paying more than in September/October 2025, just rising less quickly than during the high-inflation period of 2021-2023.

Citations (2)

  1. 1businessday.co.zaNews and media
    US inflation heats up in September on fuel costs

    Backs: “No - in general prices in stores are still higher than a year ago, even though the rate of increase has slowed and some items are cheaper month-to-month. Overall US consumer prices: In the 12 months through September, the CPI advanced 3.7% after rising 3.4% in August.”

  2. 2meatingplace.comNews and media
    Grocery Meat Prices Fell in September Despite CPI Surge

    Backs: “Grocery / Food-at-home prices: Grocery store prices dipped 0.1% over the month but rose 1.8% year on year.”