Costco shoppers are noticing something unusual at the register: prices going down.
The warehouse giant has been rolling back tags on a dozen everyday items, from pantry staples to paper goods, and the markdowns are showing up in stores rather than in any big ad campaign.
The chain's famous .97 price endings are the tell.
At Costco, a price ending in .97 usually means a manager's markdown or a discontinued item being cleared out.
Spotting those tags on items you actually buy every week is the sweet spot for stocking up.
So far this fall, members report cuts on Kirkland Signature coffee, organic peanut butter, rotisserie chicken sides, laundry detergent, bath tissue, olive oil, frozen berries, and several snack multipacks.
Some stores are also discounting seasonal patio and grilling gear as summer inventory clears out.
Here's why this matters beyond a few cents.
Grocery inflation has cooled but hasn't reversed, and households are still paying more for the same basket than they did three years ago.
Any real price drop at a store people already visit weekly is money back in the budget without a coupon-clipping marathon.
The catch is that Costco markdowns are regional and temporary.
A .97 tag in Ohio might not exist in Arizona, and once the pallet sells through, the price usually resets.
That's why the people who save the most treat every trip like a quick scan rather than a fixed list.
Membership math is worth a fresh look too.
If you're on the basic Gold Star tier at $65 a year, the Executive tier at $130 pays 2% back on most purchases.
If you spend more than $3,250 a year, the upgrade typically covers its own cost.
With prices dropping, some shoppers are hitting that threshold faster than they expected.
Costco fuel regularly runs 20 to 40 cents cheaper per gallon than nearby stations, and that alone covers a chunk of the annual fee for a two-car household.
Pair it with a rewards card that pays 4% on gas, and the savings stack.
Check the warehouse's app for your specific location before you go, since markdowns don't always post online.
Grab a price check at the register if a shelf tag and the scan disagree, and ask whether a recent purchase qualifies for an adjustment.
Costco has historically honored price drops within 30 days on many items.
Don't overlook the bakery and deli sections, where oversized items get discounted as sell-by dates approach.
A $6 rotisserie chicken or a marked-down bakery tray can carry several meals for the price of one fast-food run.
My take: this is one of the better moments in a while to be a Costco member, but the savings only land if you actually watch the tags.
The store isn't advertising these cuts, so the advantage goes to shoppers who pay attention rather than fill the cart on autopilot.
Final Thoughts
Treat the .97 as a signal, not a guarantee, and let your real household needs decide what's worth stocking up on.