Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

On average, no, prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago. While the rapid price spikes of previous years have moderated (a trend known as disinflation), overall prices for most goods and groceries continue to rise, meaning they are still more expensive than they were in late 2025.

The latest economic data and retail trends reflect the current pricing landscape:

1. Overall Inflation is Still Pushing Prices Up

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, the year-over-year inflation rate sits at 3.74%. This means that the general cost of living and buying consumer goods has increased over the past year.

2. Grocery Store Prices (Food-at-Home)

If you are looking at your grocery bill, prices have not gone down on average.

•Overall Increase: The CPI for food-at-home (groceries purchased at supermarkets) was 1.8% higher compared to the same time last year.

•Disinflation, Not Deflation: Economists note that while grocery prices are rising at a much slower, more historically normal pace compared to the double-digit spikes of 2022–2023, the previous price increases have not been erased. Groceries are simply getting expensive at a slower rate, rather than getting cheaper.

3. Retail Goods and the Impact of Tariffs

For non-grocery retail items (like apparel, home goods, and imported items), prices remain elevated:

•Tariffs: Gradual price increases have hit store shelves over the past year due to high tariffs on imported goods. Businesses have slowly passed these import tax increases down to shoppers.

•Apparel and Shoes: Clothing and footwear have seen a rise in average order value over the past year, with overall sales in apparel and accessories stores up significantly.

What is cheaper than a year ago?

While the overall store basket is more expensive, there are a few notable exceptions where prices have actually dropped compared to 2025:

•Eggs: After soaring to record highs due to supply disruptions in previous years, retail egg prices have plunged, with the USDA forecasting an average decline of nearly 29.3% compared to 2025.

•Dairy Products: Increased milk production has put downward pressure on dairy, resulting in dairy products being about 0.7% cheaper than they were a year ago.

•Personal Electronics: Average prices for computers and some personal electronics have dropped by about 6%, as retailers rely heavily on volume and discounts to attract buyers.

•Fats and Oils: This category is also forecast to see mild declines compared to last year's averages.

How Shoppers are Responding

Because overall prices remain high, retail data shows a permanent structural shift toward "value-seeking" behavior. More households are bypassing name brands for cheaper store-brand (private label) alternatives, searching for promotions, and prioritizing discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Aldi to keep their receipts in check.

Citations (14)

1foodtradenews.comNews and media
foodtradenews.com
Backs: “On average, no, prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: On average, prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.
2nbcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.84
nbcnews.com
Backs: “On average, no, prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: On average, prices in stores are not lower compared to a year ago.
3bls.govGovernment
bls.gov
Backs: “While the rapid price spikes of previous years have moderated (a trend known as disinflation), overall prices for most goods and groceries continue to rise, meaning they are still more expensive than they were in late 2025.”
evidence, data page, points to no. Claim: Disinflation has moderated price spikes, but overall prices for most goods and groceries still rise and exceed late-2025 levels.
4senate.govGovernment
senate.gov
Backs: “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, the year-over-year inflation rate sits at 3.74%.”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: BLS CPI year-over-year inflation rate sits at 3.74%.
5in2013dollars.comData and tools
in2013dollars.com
Backs: “This means that the general cost of living and buying consumer goods has increased over the past year.”
evidence, data page, points to no. Claim: General cost of living and consumer goods prices have increased over the past year.
6usda.govGovernment
usda.gov
Backs: “Overall Increase: The CPI for food-at-home (groceries purchased at supermarkets) was 1.8% higher compared to the same time last year.”
statistic, data page, points to no. Claim: CPI for food-at-home was 1.8% higher than the same time last year.
7foodnavigator.comNews and mediaquality 0.68
foodnavigator.com
Backs: “Disinflation, Not Deflation: Economists note that while grocery prices are rising at a much slower, more historically normal pace compared to the double-digit spikes of 2022–2023, the previous price increases have not been erased. Groceries are simply getting expensive at a slower rate, rather than getting cheaper.”
attribution, article, points to no. Claim: Economists note grocery prices rise at a slower pace than 2022–2023 spikes, but earlier increases haven't been erased.
8adweek.comNot yet classified
adweek.com
Backs: “For non-grocery retail items (like apparel, home goods, and imported items), prices remain elevated: Tariffs: Gradual price increases have hit store shelves over the past year due to high tariffs on imported goods.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Prices for non-grocery retail items like apparel, home goods and imports remain elevated.
9federalreserve.govGovernment
federalreserve.gov
Backs: “Tariffs: Gradual price increases have hit store shelves over the past year due to high tariffs on imported goods. Businesses have slowly passed these import tax increases down to shoppers.”
evidence, official document, points to no. Claim: Gradual price increases hit store shelves over the past year due to high tariffs on imported goods.
10just-style.comNot yet classified
just-style.com
Backs: “Apparel and Shoes: Clothing and footwear have seen a rise in average order value over the past year, with overall sales in apparel and accessories stores up significantly.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Clothing and footwear saw rising average order value, with apparel store sales up significantly.
11keepingupwithinflation.comNot yet classified
keepingupwithinflation.com
Backs: “Eggs: After soaring to record highs due to supply disruptions in previous years, retail egg prices have plunged, with the USDA forecasting an average decline of nearly 29.3% compared to 2025. Dairy Products: Increased milk production has put downward pressure on dairy, resulting in dairy products being about 0.7%…”
statistic, article, points to yes. Claim: Retail egg prices plunged, with USDA forecasting an average decline of nearly 29.3% versus 2025.
12efulfillmentservice.comNot yet classified
efulfillmentservice.com
Backs: “Because overall prices remain high, retail data shows a permanent structural shift toward "value-seeking" behavior. More households are bypassing name brands for cheaper store-brand (private label) alternatives, searching for promotions, and prioritizing discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Aldi to keep their…”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Because overall prices remain high, retail data shows a structural shift toward value-seeking behavior.
13bakerkatz.comNot yet classified
bakerkatz.com
Backs: “More households are bypassing name brands for cheaper store-brand (private label) alternatives, searching for promotions, and prioritizing discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Aldi to keep their receipts in check.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Households bypass name brands for private label, seek promotions, and favor discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, Aldi.
14forbes.comNews and mediaquality 0.83
forbes.com
Backs: “More households are bypassing name brands for cheaper store-brand (private label) alternatives, searching for promotions, and prioritizing discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Aldi to keep their receipts in check.”
evidence, article, points to no. Claim: Households bypass name brands for private label, seek promotions, and favor discount retailers like Walmart, Costco, Aldi.