According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for frankfurters are 741.41% higher in 2026 versus 1968 (a $37.07 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $5.221 in April 2022 for Frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.
The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.
Between 1968 and 2026:Hot dogs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.74% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hot dogs costing $5 in the year 1968 would cost $42.07 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.96% during this same period, inflation for hot dogs was lower.
In the year 1968: Pricing changed by 0.22%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for hot dogs during the 1968-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1968 (4.27%), inflation for hot dogs was much lower.
Frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm). U.S. city average. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices, through April 2022.
These observed prices cover the specific product and unit above, which may be narrower than the hot dogs CPI category. Local prices vary.
● Average price paid● In 2026 dollars
Annual averages use the available monthly observations; 2022 is a partial year through April 2022. The latest monthly price above may differ from the annual average. Gaps are left blank.
| Year | Average price paid | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 (partial) | $5.089 | $5.825 |
| 2021 | $4.008 | $4.954 |
| 2020 | $3.537 | $4.578 |
| 2019 | $3.099 | $4.061 |
| 2018 | $2.915 | $3.887 |
| 2017 | $2.851 | $3.897 |
| 2016 | $3.24 | $4.522 |
| 2015 | $3.57 | $5.046 |
| 2014 | No observation | — |
| 2013 | No observation | — |
| 2012 | No observation | — |
| 2011 | No observation | — |
| 2010 | No observation | — |
| 2009 | No observation | — |
| 2008 | No observation | — |
| 2007 | No observation | — |
| 2006 | No observation | — |
| 2005 | No observation | — |
| 2004 | No observation | — |
| 2003 | No observation | — |
| 2002 | No observation | — |
| 2001 | No observation | — |
| 2000 | No observation | — |
| 1999 | No observation | — |
| 1998 | No observation | — |
| 1997 | $2.265 | $4.727 |
| 1996 | $2.08 | $4.44 |
| 1995 | $2.026 | $4.454 |
| 1994 | $2.113 | $4.775 |
| 1993 | $2.107 | $4.884 |
| 1992 | $2.241 | $5.35 |
| 1991 | $2.353 | $5.788 |
| 1990 | $2.289 | $5.867 |
| 1989 | $2.064 | $5.575 |
| 1988 | $2.024 | $5.732 |
| 1987 | $1.989 | $5.864 |
| 1986 | $1.931 | $5.902 |
| 1985 | $1.814 | $5.647 |
| 1984 | $1.799 | $5.80 |
| 1983 | $1.808 | $6.08 |
| 1982 | $1.817 | $6.308 |
| 1981 | $1.768 | $6.514 |
| 1980 | $1.721 | $6.995 |
Price in 2026 dollars = observed annual price × (2026 all-items CPI ÷ that year's all-items CPI). This measures overall purchasing power using the U.S. inflation index; the latest CPI year may be incomplete.
Average prices describe price levels. Changes in the products and stores sampled can affect these averages; category CPI controls for such changes and can follow a different path. Read the BLS explanation of average prices versus indexes.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Hot dogs, over time, for $5 beginning in 1968. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | $5.00 | 0.22% |
| 1969 | $5.43 | 8.66% |
| 1970 | $5.80 | 6.69% |
| 1971 | $5.74 | -1.05% |
| 1972 | $6.22 | 8.42% |
| 1973 | $8.09 | 30.12% |
| 1974 | $7.98 | -1.39% |
| 1975 | $8.26 | 3.49% |
| 1976 | $8.32 | 0.80% |
| 1977 | $8.12 | -2.40% |
| 1978 | $10.07 | 24.00% |
| 1979 | $11.85 | 17.60% |
| 1980 | $12.26 | 3.53% |
| 1981 | $12.81 | 4.41% |
| 1982 | $13.34 | 4.16% |
| 1983 | $13.22 | -0.86% |
| 1984 | $13.23 | 0.03% |
| 1985 | $13.25 | 0.16% |
| 1986 | $13.53 | 2.16% |
| 1987 | $14.52 | 7.26% |
| 1988 | $14.95 | 2.97% |
| 1989 | $15.39 | 2.97% |
| 1990 | $17.14 | 11.35% |
| 1991 | $17.62 | 2.81% |
| 1992 | $17.41 | -1.18% |
| 1993 | $17.62 | 1.22% |
| 1994 | $18.27 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $18.39 | 0.67% |
| 1996 | $18.85 | 2.49% |
| 1997 | $19.27 | 2.22% |
| 1998 | $19.18 | -0.48% |
| 1999 | $19.29 | 0.62% |
| 2000 | $19.71 | 2.15% |
| 2001 | $20.60 | 4.54% |
| 2002 | $20.85 | 1.17% |
| 2003 | $22.05 | 5.76% |
| 2004 | $22.34 | 1.34% |
| 2005 | $22.43 | 0.41% |
| 2006 | $22.76 | 1.44% |
| 2007 | $23.79 | 4.52% |
| 2008 | $24.58 | 3.35% |
| 2009 | $25.04 | 1.87% |
| 2010 | $25.03 | -0.07% |
| 2011 | $26.70 | 6.69% |
| 2012 | $27.43 | 2.74% |
| 2013 | $27.40 | -0.11% |
| 2014 | $28.62 | 4.44% |
| 2015 | $30.55 | 6.75% |
| 2016 | $29.89 | -2.16% |
| 2017 | $30.11 | 0.74% |
| 2018 | $30.43 | 1.04% |
| 2019 | $30.85 | 1.41% |
| 2020 | $33.24 | 7.73% |
| 2021 | $33.48 | 0.73% |
| 2022 | $37.15 | 10.97% |
| 2023 | $38.46 | 3.52% |
| 2024 | $40.41 | 5.06% |
| 2025 | $40.59 | 0.46% |
| 2026 | $42.07 | 3.63%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 33.558 | 33.050 | 30.083 | 28.800 | 27.600 | 27.042 | 29.500 | 33.675 | 33.333 | 32.508 | 33.025 | 33.158 | 33.108 | 32.842 | 34.958 | 38.208 | 37.617 | 37.700 | 40.967 | 43.708 | 43.250 | 46.892 | 61.017 | 60.167 | 62.267 | 62.767 | 61.258 | 75.958 | 89.325 | 92.475 | 96.550 | 100.567 | 99.700 | 99.725 | 99.883 | 102.042 | 109.450 | 112.700 | 116.050 | 129.225 | 132.858 | 131.292 | 132.892 | 137.742 | 138.658 | 142.117 | 145.275 | 144.583 | 145.475 | 148.600 | 155.350 | 157.175 | 166.233 | 168.467 | 169.150 | 171.592 | 179.344 | 185.350 | 188.824 | 188.694 | 201.309 | 206.830 | 206.612 | 215.781 | 230.354 | 225.371 | 227.044 | 229.406 | 232.631 | 250.606 | 252.430 | 280.130 | 289.987 | 304.673 | 306.085 | 317.210 |