Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: No. Overall consumer prices in the U.S. are higher than a year ago.

Details as of the latest data:

•Headline CPI rose 3.7% year over year in September 2026 (release dated October 14, 2026), so the overall price level is up, not down.[1]

•For typical “in-store” goods:

•Groceries (food at home) are up about 1.8% versus September 2025.[1]

•Core goods excluding food, energy, and used cars/trucks are up about 1.1% year over year.[1]

•Some categories are lower: for example, used cars and trucks are down about 1.5% from a year earlier.[1]

•The Fed’s preferred measure (PCE price index) was up 3.4% year over year in August 2026, the most recent month available.[2]

If you had a specific category in mind (e.g., groceries, electronics, clothing), tell me and I can pull the latest figures for that slice.

Citations (2)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Headline CPI rose 3.7% year over year in September 2026 (release dated October 14, 2026), so the overall price level is up, not down.”
2bea.govGovernment
Personal Income and Outlays, August 2026 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Backs: “The Fed’s preferred measure (PCE price index) was up 3.4% year over year in August 2026, the most recent month available.”