Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.

While the rapid rate of inflation has slowed down significantly from its peak years—a trend economists call disinflation—the prices of most consumer goods are still higher than they were in late 2025. True deflation (where prices actually decrease) is very rare.

According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for September 2026, here is how store prices compare to a year prior (September 2025):

1. Groceries (Food at Home)

•Overall Change: Grocery prices are 1.8% to 2.2% higher on average compared to a year ago.

•What is more expensive: Staples like fresh fruits (up 4.9% year-over-year), fresh vegetables (up 2.8%), and nonalcoholic beverages remain noticeably higher. Ground beef and other beef products have also seen substantial price hikes due to supply constraints.

•What is cheaper: There are exceptions where prices have fallen. Eggs have dropped significantly from their peak 2025 bird-flu-induced highs. Additionally, dairy products and milk have seen slight year-over-year decreases.

2. Apparel and Footwear

•Overall Change: Clothing prices have risen, with apparel index costs up 3.4% compared to a year ago. While retailers have offered more targeted promotions, base prices on new inventory—particularly items made of synthetic or oil-based fibers—have continued to drift upward.

3. Retail Goods and Electronics

•Overall Change: General retail goods remain slightly more expensive. However, some big-ticket commodities have bucked the trend. For instance, used cars and trucks are down about 1.5% compared to last year.

Why store prices still feel high:

1.Discounts vs. Baskets: In mid-2026, major retail giants like Walmart, Target, and Aldi grabbed headlines by announcing "price rollbacks" on thousands of staple items (such as milk, bread, and paper towels) to attract budget-conscious shoppers. However, while these specific items are cheaper, your entire shopping basket on average is still costing more due to price increases in other categories.

2.Cumulative Inflation: Shoppers are still paying the cumulative price increases built up over the last few years. Even if prices only rise by 1.8% this year, that increase is stacked on top of the double-digit price hikes from previous years, keeping the receipt total near record highs.

Citations (9)

1foodtradenews.comNews and media
foodtradenews.com
Backs: “No, overall prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.”
2clarin.comNews and media
clarin.com
Backs: “While the rapid rate of inflation has slowed down significantly from its peak years—a trend economists call disinflation—the prices of most consumer goods are still higher than they were in late 2025. True deflation (where prices actually decrease) is very rare.”
3thecooldown.comCommercial content
thecooldown.com
Backs: “True deflation (where prices actually decrease) is very rare. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for September 2026, here is how store prices compare to a year prior (September 2025):”
4usda.govGovernment
usda.gov
Backs: “What is more expensive: Staples like fresh fruits (up 4.9% year-over-year), fresh vegetables (up 2.8%), and nonalcoholic beverages remain noticeably higher. Ground beef and other beef products have also seen substantial price hikes due to supply constraints.”
5usafacts.orgData and toolsquality 0.91
usafacts.org
Backs: “Ground beef and other beef products have also seen substantial price hikes due to supply constraints. What is cheaper: There are exceptions where prices have fallen.”
6grocerytradenews.comNews and media
grocerytradenews.com
Backs: “Eggs have dropped significantly from their peak 2025 bird-flu-induced highs. Additionally, dairy products and milk have seen slight year-over-year decreases.”
7fibre2fashion.comNot yet classified
fibre2fashion.com
Backs: “Overall Change: Clothing prices have risen, with apparel index costs up 3.4% compared to a year ago. While retailers have offered more targeted promotions, base prices on new inventory—particularly items made of synthetic or oil-based fibers—have continued to drift upward.”
8nbcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.84
nbcnews.com
Backs: “While retailers have offered more targeted promotions, base prices on new inventory—particularly items made of synthetic or oil-based fibers—have continued to drift upward. 3.”
9shenglufashion.comNot yet classified
shenglufashion.com
Backs: “While retailers have offered more targeted promotions, base prices on new inventory—particularly items made of synthetic or oil-based fibers—have continued to drift upward. 3.”