Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, prices in stores are generally not lower compared to a year ago (as of the latest data through September 2026); most measures show modest increases, though some specific items or categories have declined, and inflation has cooled from prior peaks.[1]

Official U.S. Data (BLS CPI, September 2026)

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all items rose 3.7% year-over-year (YoY). This is driven partly by energy (up sharply due to factors like geopolitical tensions), but goods and store-related categories also show net increases:[1]

•Food at home (grocery/supermarket prices): +1.8% YoY. It fell slightly month-over-month (-0.1%), with mixed subcategory changes.[1]

•Dairy and related products: -0.7%.

•Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: +0.3% (some items like certain beef cuts or eggs have seen declines or stabilization after prior spikes).

•Fruits and vegetables: +3.7%.

•Nonalcoholic beverages: +3.8%.

•Cereals and bakery: +2.1%.

•Commodities (broader goods, many of which are store-bought): +4.6% YoY (unadjusted).[2]

•Commodities less food and energy commodities (core goods, closer to non-food retail items): +0.7% YoY.[3]

•Other examples: Apparel +3.4%; new vehicles +0.6%; used cars and trucks -1.5%; medical care commodities -3.3%.[3]

Core CPI (all items less food and energy) was up 2.6% YoY. Retail price indexes (e.g., Chicago Fed measures for retail/food services excluding autos) have also shown positive YoY changes around 3–4% recently.[4]

Context and Nuances

•Not uniform: Shoppers may notice lower prices on select items (e.g., some dairy, certain meats/seafood, used vehicles, or promotions/discounts). Retailers have used rollbacks, private-label options, and promotions in recent years to compete, especially after the high-inflation period of 2021–2023. However, average basket prices (official CPI or tracked shopping carts) are higher YoY.[5]

•Longer-term view: Prices remain substantially elevated versus pre-pandemic levels (e.g., food-at-home cumulatively up ~30%+ since early 2020). Cumulative inflation since then is the bigger source of sticker shock for many.[6]

•Earlier periods (e.g., 2024): There was more widespread goods deflation or near-flat pricing, with major retailers (Walmart, Target, etc.) cutting prices on thousands of items amid cooling supply chains and consumer pushback. Goods prices were sometimes down ~1% or flat YoY then. That dynamic has shifted with recent energy cost pressures feeding through.[7]

•Other factors: “Shrinkflation” (smaller packages at similar prices) has occurred but has had a limited overall impact on measured inflation. Regional, store-brand vs. name-brand, and promotional differences mean individual experiences vary. Energy/gas spikes (gasoline +34% YoY) raise costs for transporting goods, which can pressure store prices.[8]

In short, while inflation has moderated significantly from double-digit peaks in some categories a few years ago and some items are cheaper or stable, the typical store price level (especially groceries and many goods) is higher than a year ago per official data. For the most current figures, check the latest BLS CPI release, as monthly updates continue. Prices can also differ by location, retailer, and shopping habits (e.g., discounts, bulk, or store brands).

Citations (8)

1bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
Backs: “No, prices in stores are generally not lower compared to a year ago (as of the latest data through September 2026); most measures show modest increases, though some specific items or categories have declined, and inflation has cooled from prior peaks.”
2bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t03.htm
Backs: “Commodities (broader goods, many of which are store-bought): +4.6% YoY (unadjusted).”
3bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/charts/cpi-cpi_rc_1cpibycat.stm
Backs: “Commodities less food and energy commodities (core goods, closer to non-food retail items): +0.7% YoY.”
4stlouisfed.orgGovernment
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CARTSPY
Backs: “Retail price indexes (e.g., Chicago Fed measures for retail/food services excluding autos) have also shown positive YoY changes around 3–4% recently.”
5grocerytradenews.comNews and media
https://www.grocerytradenews.com/us-grocery-inflation-september-2026/
Backs: “However, average basket prices (official CPI or tracked shopping carts) are higher YoY.”
6yahoo.comNews and mediaquality 0.69
https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/article/inflation-is-retreating-from-most-of-the-store--why-your-biggest-bills-are-the-holdouts-chart-of-the-day-113303438.html
Backs: “Cumulative inflation since then is the bigger source of sticker shock for many.”
7retailbrew.comNews and media
https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/12/18/2024-was-the-year-of-discounts-price-cuts-and-more-affordable-assortments
Backs: “That dynamic has shifted with recent energy cost pressures feeding through.”
8bls.govGovernment
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/prices-for-gasoline-increased-34-2-percent-over-the-year-ended-september-2026.htm
Backs: “Energy/gas spikes (gasoline +34% YoY) raise costs for transporting goods, which can pressure store prices.”