Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: generally no.

•Overall U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier (BLS CPI release on October 14, 2026).[1]

•Grocery store prices (“food at home”) were 1.8% higher year over year, though they dipped 0.1% from August to September.[1]

•Many store-sold goods are slightly higher, not lower: “commodities less food and energy” were up 0.7% year over year.[1]

•Some specific items did fall versus a year ago (for example, dairy −0.7% and eggs −20.6%), but that’s the exception.[1]

If you meant a particular type of store (e.g., groceries vs. big-box retail) or a specific region, tell me and I can break it down.

Citations (1)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Overall U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier (BLS CPI release on October 14, 2026).”