I shop for our family of 4. Here are the things I buy in bulk to fight inflation.

• Inflation is cooling overall, but food prices have been more stubborn.
• To combat high prices, some people are seeking out the best deals at different stores.
• I went to three stores to see where I could find the best prices for my family of four.

While inflation has come down quite a bit since its peak in June 2022, one place where Americans are still being hit hard is at the grocery store.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said food prices haven't recovered in the past year as much as other areas, during an interview with CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on December 6.

"We are down in pricing in the general merchandising categories, meaning non-food categories, about 5% now," said McMillon when discussing pricing at his stores compared to 2022. "But the dry goods and consumables categories, processed food, had quite a bit of stubborn inflation in it for a period of time."

At home, I do the grocery shopping for a family of four, and like many others, the current economy has turned it into something that can be both stressful and a bit of a game. Finding the best deals is a constant battle, often taking me to multiple stores.

And even when things are on sale, it is not always easy to know when you are getting a good deal.

To determine where the best prices can be found, I went to three large but different stores selling groceries: Walmart, a big box store; Costco, a warehouse club; and HEB, a large grocery chain in Texas.

I compared the prices of 13 everyday items at each of the stores. While I paid more at Costco because of the bulk and limited choices in quantity, on a per-unit basis, it was the best deal overall, costing about $65.

Meanwhile, HEB and Walmart were nearly identical, at about $73, and several items were priced precisely the same. It was surprising because I generally viewed Walmart as a cheaper option but also disappointing because they have far fewer options in the various categories.

Here's how some of the grocery prices compare at the three stores.