Hot dog prices: $1.72 in 1980→$5.22 in 2022

Last reported price; the Bureau of Labor Statistics no longer tracks this item.

Hot Dogs Inflation Calculator

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of hot dogs rose 203%, from $1.72 per pound in 1980 to $5.22 in April 2022, the last price it reported. Overall prices rose 309% over the same period, so hot dogs rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted


Hot dogs inflation, 1951–2026

Hot dog prices are 844.62% higher in 2026 versus 1951 (a $42.23 difference in value).

Between 1951 and 2026, Hot dogs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.04% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hot dogs costing $5 in the year 1951 would cost $47.23 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.46% during this same period, inflation for hot dogs was lower.

Price Inflation for Frankfurters since 1951

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1973 (30.12%), 1978 (24%), and 1979 (17.60%).

The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.


Hot dog prices by year

The average price for hot dogs is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm) each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

YearPrice (per pound)Price, inflation-adjusted
2022 (partial)$5.09$5.86
2021$4.01$4.98
2020$3.54$4.61
2019$3.10$4.08
2018$2.92$3.91
2017$2.85$3.92
2016$3.24$4.55
2015$3.57$5.08
2014No data—
2013No data—
2012No data—
2011No data—
2010No data—
2009No data—
2008No data—
2007No data—
2006No data—
2005No data—
2004No data—
2003No data—
2002No data—
2001No data—
2000No data—
1999No data—
1998No data—
1997$2.27$4.76
1996$2.08$4.47
1995$2.03$4.48
1994$2.11$4.80
1993$2.11$4.91
1992$2.24$5.38
1991$2.35$5.82
1990$2.29$5.90
1989$2.06$5.61
1988$2.02$5.77
1987$1.99$5.90
1986$1.93$5.94
1985$1.81$5.68
1984$1.80$5.83
1983$1.81$6.12
1982$1.82$6.34
1981$1.77$6.55
1980$1.72$7.04

Yearly averages; 2022 is through April. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.


View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $5.00 since 1951

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Hot dogs, over time, for $5 beginning in 1951. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1951$5.00-
1952$4.92-1.51%
1953$4.48-8.98%
1954$4.29-4.27%
1955$4.11-4.17%
1956$4.03-2.02%
1957$4.409.09%
1958$5.0214.15%
1959$4.97-1.01%
1960$4.84-2.48%
1961$4.921.59%
1962$4.940.40%
1963$4.93-0.15%
1964$4.89-0.81%
1965$5.216.45%
1966$5.699.30%
1967$5.60-1.55%
1968$5.620.22%
1969$6.108.66%
1970$6.516.69%
1971$6.44-1.05%
1972$6.998.42%
1973$9.0930.12%
1974$8.96-1.39%
1975$9.283.49%
1976$9.350.80%
1977$9.13-2.40%
1978$11.3224.00%
1979$13.3117.60%
1980$13.783.53%
1981$14.394.41%
1982$14.984.16%
1983$14.85-0.86%
1984$14.860.03%
1985$14.880.16%
1986$15.202.16%
1987$16.317.26%
1988$16.792.97%
1989$17.292.97%
1990$19.2511.35%
1991$19.802.81%
1992$19.56-1.18%
1993$19.801.22%
1994$20.523.65%
1995$20.660.67%
1996$21.172.49%
1997$21.652.22%
1998$21.54-0.48%
1999$21.670.62%
2000$22.142.15%
2001$23.154.54%
2002$23.421.17%
2003$24.775.76%
2004$25.101.34%
2005$25.200.41%
2006$25.571.44%
2007$26.724.52%
2008$27.623.35%
2009$28.131.87%
2010$28.11-0.07%
2011$29.996.69%
2012$30.822.74%
2013$30.78-0.11%
2014$32.154.44%
2015$34.326.75%
2016$33.58-2.16%
2017$33.830.74%
2018$34.181.04%
2019$34.661.41%
2020$37.347.73%
2021$37.610.73%
2022$41.7410.97%
2023$43.213.52%
2024$45.395.06%
2025$45.600.46%
2026$47.233.57%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Frankfurters:

Year1951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI33.55833.05030.08328.80027.60027.04229.50033.67533.33332.50833.02533.15833.10832.84234.95838.20837.61737.70040.96743.70843.25046.89261.01760.16762.26762.76761.25875.95889.32592.47596.550100.56799.70099.72599.883102.042109.450112.700116.050129.225132.858131.292132.892137.742138.658142.117145.275144.583145.475148.600155.350157.175166.233168.467169.150171.592179.344185.350188.824188.694201.309206.830206.612215.781230.354225.371227.044229.406232.631250.606252.430280.130289.987304.673306.085316.998

Adjust hot dogs prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1951* 1951 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Frankfurters was 33.558 in the year 1951 and 316.998 in 2026:

316.998 / 33.558* $5 = $47.23

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 1951 has the same "purchasing power" as $47.23 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Frankfurters).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Frankfurters in 1951. In addition to hot dogs, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.