As a result, York County shoppers paid less for groceries this October than last, according to a price comparison done by The York Dispatch.

The comparison looks at the non-promotional, non-club-card price of 17 common items found at four area grocery stores.

But while prices for the year are down an average of $1.69, they've rebounded some after a substantial drop between October 2008 and April. Since April, prices have increased $1.87.

It cost an average of $64.98 to buy the items, ranging from coffee to toilet paper, in April. Last month, it cost $66.85 to buy the same staples, in part because of the rebound of commodities

The price of whole milk increased an average of 41 cents at the four stores in the last six months. A gallon of milk went from as little as about $3 per gallon in April to as much as $3.