Are prices lower in stores compared to a year ago?

Short answer: generally no. In the U.S., overall consumer prices were about 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025 (latest BLS data released October 14, 2026).[1]

Details:

•Groceries (food at home): up 1.8% year over year. Restaurants (food away from home): up 3.5%.[1]

•Some store categories are cheaper than a year ago: used cars and trucks are down about 1.5%; several home goods like furniture and major appliances are modestly lower.[1]

•Energy costs rose sharply; gasoline is roughly 34% higher than a year earlier, which can influence what you pay for many goods.[1]

If you had a specific type of “in-store” shopping in mind (e.g., groceries, clothing, electronics), I can pull the latest figures for that category.[1]

Citations (1)

1bls.govGovernment
Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results
Backs: “In the U.S., overall consumer prices were about 3.7% higher in September 2026 than in September 2025 (latest BLS data released October 14, 2026).”