Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: generally no.

•Overall U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025 (latest CPI data released October 14, 2026).[1]

•Grocery-store prices (“food at home”) were 1.8% higher year over year; they dipped 0.1% from August to September, but are still up versus a year ago.[1]

•Restaurant prices (“food away from home”) were up 3.5% year over year.[1]

There are a few exceptions: for example, dairy prices were 0.7% lower and used cars/trucks 1.5% lower than a year earlier, but most store categories remain higher than last year.[1]

If you’re asking specifically about groceries or a different type of store, tell me which and I can pull the latest details for that category.

Citations (1)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “Overall U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025 (latest CPI data released October 14, 2026).”
statistic, official document, points to no. Claim: Overall U.S. consumer prices were 3.7% higher in September 2026 than September 2025; grocery prices up 1.8% year over year; restaurant prices up 3.5%; dairy and used cars lower.