Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: No.

Using the latest U.S. data available (September 2026, released October 14, 2026), overall consumer prices are 3.7% higher than a year earlier. Grocery (“food at home”) prices are up 1.8% year over year, restaurant prices up 3.5%, and energy costs are up 20.4% (with gasoline up 34.2%). So while inflation has cooled from earlier peaks, prices overall aren’t lower than in September 2025.[1]

If you mean a specific type of “in‑store” price (e.g., groceries vs. electronics), tell me which category and I can break it down.[1]