Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Prices down from a year ago? I'll check the latest inflation and grocery price data.

I've gathered the broad trends — now I'll pull the official details to give you a precise answer.

No — in general prices in stores are higher than a year ago, not lower — though the pace of increases has slowed and a few specific grocery items are cheaper.

Most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for September 2026:

•The Consumer Price Index increased 3.7% in September from year-ago levels after increasing 3.4% in August

•Overall inflation rose 0.6% month over month after rising 0.4% in August

•Over the 12 months ending in September, the all-items index increased 3.7 percent before seasonal adjustment, up from a 3.4 percent rise over the 12 months ending in August

For groceries / food:

•Food prices held steady in September after increasing 0.1% in August. Grocery prices fell 0.1%

•The food index was unchanged in September

•Food unchanged m/m (+2.5% y/y); food at home −0.1% / +1.8% y/y; food away +0.2% / +3.5% y/y

•The same numbers described as: a decrease of 0.1% for food-at-home inflation in September and a 1.8% increase over the last 12 months

•More detail: Food at home fell 0.1 percent. Three of the six major grocery groups declined: meats, poultry, fish and eggs dropped 0.5 percent, with beef down 1 percent; dairy and related products fell 0.9 percent, with milk down 2 percent

•For a broader retail indicator, the average price paid for the top 500 items in September increased 2.1% year-over-year

That illustrates the difference between disinflation and deflation:

> Lower inflation = prices are rising more slowly. ... Deflation = prices are actually falling

What is cheaper than a year ago?

•Eggs are the main exception: EGGS (down) -20.6% on a 12-month basis to September 2026.

•Some retailers have cut prices on part of assortment: nearly one-third of the everyday in-store assortment at ALDI is priced lower than last year

•Store-to-store variation is large — one continuous tracking study of 14 Portland stores found the average 20-item basket is up 7.6% over the past year, from $83.31 to $89.65

So on a month-to-month basis grocery prices dipped 0.1% in September, but year-over-year they are still up about 1.8% for food at home and 2.5% for food overall — not lower than a year ago in aggregate.

Citations (3)

1morningstar.comData and tools
September CPI Report Shows Inflation at a 3.7% Annual Rate
Backs: “No — in general prices in stores are higher than a year ago, not lower — though the pace of increases has slowed and a few specific grocery items are cheaper. Most recent U.S.”
2tickergrove.comNot yet classified
U.S. consumer prices jump 0.6% in September as gasoline drives inflation back to 3.7%
Backs: “Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for September 2026: The Consumer Price Index increased 3.7% in September from year-ago levels after increasing 3.4% in August. Overall inflation rose 0.6% month over month after rising 0.4% in August”
3massmarketretailers.comNot yet classified
FMI issues statement on September 2026 CPI food price numbers
Backs: “Food prices held steady in September after increasing 0.1% in August. Grocery prices fell 0.1%. The food index was unchanged in September. Food unchanged m/m (+2.5% y/y); food at home −0.1% / +1.8% y/y; food away +0.2% / +3.5% y/y”