One of the positive aspects for consumers in these tough economic times is that inflation is well under control. And in one key area of consumer spending in particular -- food -- it's almost impossible not to save money these days.

That's reflected in Wells Fargo & Co.'s cost-of-living report released Wednesday. The banking company reported that grocery prices along the Wasatch Front declined by 1.9 percent in August from July. Lower food prices helped push down the overall cost of living 0.1 percent over that one-month period.

But good deals aren't limited only to groceries. From restaurant meals to apparel to big-ticket items such as appliances, there are bargains to be had. Over the past year, prices locally in all categories in which goods and services are sold are down 1.4 percent.

There are, of course, a variety of ways to save. Although some promotions, such as double coupons for a host of items, require some effort in the form of clipping, other promotions are lowering prices for everybody. Many stores, for example, are cutting prices and "price matching" their competitor's prices for everything from tires to tea sets.

"It used to be primarily just Walmart that would match a competitor's advertised price," said Erin Gifford, author of the popular CouponCravings.com blog. "Now Target is doing the same. This definitely helps when you don't want to have to run around town to several different stores for the best prices."

In the food category, Gifford said she's been pleasantly surprised at all the great grocery coupons being released by food manufacturers designed to generate interest in their products. In fact, many food companies are flooding the market with coupons, both in the Sunday newspaper and via the Web, for products people buy every day. Savvy shoppers who pair those coupons with sales are getting highly discounted or free food.

Although food prices were lower from July to August, they are up locally about 6.8 percent in the past year. Nationally prices are up only 1 percent from last year, but Wells Fargo economist Kelly Matthews warns against anyone reading too much into that disparity, given the differences in the way the local and national reports are compiled.

The Wasatch Front data compiled for Wells Fargo, for example, is not seasonally adjusted, which makes it difficult to make a direct comparison with national data, which is seasonally adjusted (to remove seasonal variations that might skew it).

"That's a pretty wide difference in how much food prices have increased," Matthews said. "I just can't give you a reason why that's the case, but I also can't believe there is a fundamental difference between our food prices and [those in] other areas."

Nationally, inflation also is in check. The Labor Department reported that although the cost of living nationally climbed slightly, to 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, consumer prices are down about 1.5 percent from August of last year.

Along the Wasatch Front, transportation costs rose 1.3 percent in August, reflecting a recent upward creep in gasoline prices.

According to travel services agency AAA Utah, prices in the state averaged $2.70 a gallon Thursday, up three cents from last month. Prices are still well below the average of $3.78 per gallon one year ago.

Since February 2008 -- when Wells Fargo switched to a new method of calculating inflation locally -- the overall cost of living along the Wasatch Front has increased a total of 1.7 percent, compared with a 1.9 percent increase on the national level over the same time period. The bank changed its methodology to make its assessment more accurate.

lesley@sltrib.com