At the end of normal expiration and just before inspiration begins, the glottis is open and no air is flowing into or out of the lungs. The alveolar pressure at that moment is

At the end of normal expiration (when the glottis is open and no air is flowing into or out of the lungs), the pressures in all parts of the respiratory tree, all the way to the alveoli, are equal to atmospheric pressure. For inspiration to occur, the pressure in the alveoli must fall to a value slightly below atmospheric pressure.