Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: generally no. On average, prices in US stores are higher than a year ago.

•Overall: Consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025, per the latest CPI report (released October 14, 2026).[1]

•Groceries: “Food at home” (grocery) prices were up about 1.8% year over year, though they dipped 0.1% from August to September.[1]

•Some things are cheaper: Used cars and trucks were 1.5% lower than a year earlier; several beef cuts and furniture/bedding also showed year-over-year declines.[1]

•Some things are higher: Gasoline was about 9% higher than a year earlier.[1]

If you have specific items (e.g., groceries, electronics, gas) or a location in mind, I can pull the latest figures for those.

Citations (1)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025, per the latest CPI report (released October 14, 2026).”