Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

No, overall prices in stores are not lower than a year ago — most are still higher, though inflation has slowed and a few specific items have gotten cheaper.

Overall inflation:

•The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in September, and over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

•Economy-wide inflation increased 0.6 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was up 3.7 percent from September 2025.

Grocery (food-at-home) prices specifically:

•The food-at-home CPI increased 0.1 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was 1.8 percent higher than in September 2025. So groceries overall are still more expensive than a year ago, just by a smaller margin than during the worst inflation years.

•As one analysis summarized: the U.S. food-at-home price index stood 2.2% above its August 2025 level. Some foods cost less than they did a year ago, but across the grocery basket, prices remain higher.

What's actually gotten cheaper:

•Eggs are the biggest exception. Egg prices increased 1.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 20.6 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025. This is because USDA is projecting an increase in egg production in 2026 over 2025 after avian flu disruptions eased.

•Dairy has also dipped slightly: retail dairy prices decreased by 0.9 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 0.7 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025.

•Pork is roughly flat/down: in September 2026, pork prices were unchanged from August 2026 and down 0.7 percent from September 2025.

What's still more expensive:

•Beef is up sharply: beef and veal prices decreased by 1.3 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 3.5 percent higher in September 2026 than in September 2025, with federally inspected beef production lower in most months of 2026, expected to remain below year-ago levels through the end of 2026.

•Fresh fruit is up too: retail fresh fruit prices increased by 2.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 4.9 percent higher in September 2026 than in September 2025.

•Coffee, tomatoes, apples, and some proteins have also climbed year-over-year, based on mid-2026 BLS data.

Bottom line: Inflation has cooled compared to the sharp spikes of 2021–2023, but it's a mixed picture — a handful of items like eggs and dairy are cheaper than last year, while most categories (beef, fruit, coffee, bakery items) are still pricier, and the overall grocery basket remains about 1.8–2.2% above year-ago levels nationally. Outside the U.S., similar trends hold: in the UK, for example, overall shop price inflation has actually been accelerating rather than falling.

Citations (10)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index Summary - 2026 M09 Results
Source excerpt: “Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until 8:30 a.m. (ET) Wednesday, October 14, 2026 USDL-26-1574 Technical information: (202) 691-7...”
2usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.6 percent from August 2026 to September 2026. It was up 3.7...”
3usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 0.1 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and was 1.8 percent higher...”
4foodtradenews.comNews and media
Are Groceries Getting Cheaper? Why Your Bill May Say Otherwise - Food Trade News & Food World
Source excerpt: “The U.S. food-at-home price index was unchanged in August 2026 and stood 2.2% above its August 2025 level, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics...”
5usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Egg prices increased 1.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 20.6 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025. ”
6usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “However, USDA is projecting an increase in egg production in 2026 over 2025. ”
7usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Retail dairy prices decreased by 0.9 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 0.7 percent lower in September 2026 than in September 2025. ”
8usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “In September 2026, pork prices were unchanged from August 2026 and down 0.7 percent from September 2025. ”
9usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Beef and veal prices decreased by 1.3 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 but were 3.5 percent higher in September 2026 than in September 2025....”
10usda.govGovernment
Food Price Outlook - Summary Findings | Economic Research Service
Source excerpt: “Retail fresh fruit prices increased by 2.0 percent from August 2026 to September 2026 and were 4.9 percent higher in September 2026 than in September ...”