Hot dogs priced at $5 in 1972 $32.35 in 2024

Hot Dogs Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Hot Dogs, 1972-2024 ($5)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for frankfurters are 547.02% higher in 2024 versus 1972 (a $27.35 difference in value).

The current national average price is $5.22 for "Frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1972 and 2024: Hot dogs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hot dogs costing $5 in the year 1972 would cost $32.35 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.95% during this same period, inflation for hot dogs was lower.

In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 8.41%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for hot dogs during the 1972-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for hot dogs was much higher.

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 (17.59%).

Price history

The average price for Hot dogs is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Frankfurters, all meat or all beef, per lb. (453.6 gm):

YearAverage price (Hot dogs)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
2022$5.09$5.09
2021$4.01$4.45
2020$3.54$3.95
2019$3.10$3.73
2018$2.92$3.56
2017$2.85$3.52
2016$3.24$4.03
2015$3.57$4.34
2014$2.27$2.94
2013$2.27$3.07
2012$2.27$3.07
2011$2.27$3.15
2010$2.27$3.36
2009$2.27$3.36
2008$2.27$3.42
2007$2.27$3.54
2006$2.27$3.70
2005$2.27$3.75
2004$2.27$3.77
2003$2.27$3.82
2002$2.27$4.04
2001$2.27$4.08
2000$2.27$4.27
1999$2.27$4.36
1998$2.27$4.39
1997$2.27$4.37
1996$2.08$4.10
1995$2.03$4.09
1994$2.11$4.30
1993$2.11$4.44
1992$2.24$4.78
1991$2.35$4.96
1990$2.29$4.96
1989$2.06$4.98
1988$2.02$5.03
1987$1.99$5.09
1986$1.93$5.30
1985$1.81$5.09
1984$1.80$5.05
1983$1.81$5.08
1982$1.82$5.06
1981$1.77$5.13
1980$1.72$5.21

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $5.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Hot dogs, over time, for $5 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$5.008.41%
1973$6.5130.12%
1974$6.42-1.39%
1975$6.643.49%
1976$6.690.80%
1977$6.53-2.40%
1978$8.1024.00%
1979$9.5217.59%
1980$9.863.53%
1981$10.304.41%
1982$10.724.16%
1983$10.63-0.86%
1984$10.630.02%
1985$10.650.16%
1986$10.882.16%
1987$11.677.26%
1988$12.022.97%
1989$12.372.98%
1990$13.7811.35%
1991$14.172.82%
1992$14.00-1.18%
1993$14.171.22%
1994$14.693.65%
1995$14.790.67%
1996$15.152.49%
1997$15.492.22%
1998$15.42-0.48%
1999$15.510.62%
2000$15.842.15%
2001$16.564.54%
2002$16.761.17%
2003$17.725.76%
2004$17.961.35%
2005$18.040.41%
2006$18.301.44%
2007$19.124.52%
2008$19.763.35%
2009$20.131.87%
2010$20.12-0.07%
2011$21.476.69%
2012$22.052.74%
2013$22.03-0.11%
2014$23.014.44%
2015$24.566.75%
2016$24.03-2.16%
2017$24.210.74%
2018$24.461.04%
2019$24.801.41%
2020$26.727.73%
2021$26.920.73%
2022$29.8710.97%
2023$30.923.52%
2024$32.354.63%*

* 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:

Year19511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI33.56233.05430.08528.80027.60027.03829.50033.67733.33132.50833.03133.16233.10832.83834.96238.20837.61537.70040.96943.70843.25446.89261.01560.16962.26962.76961.26275.96289.32392.47796.554100.56999.70099.72399.885102.046109.454112.700116.054129.223132.862131.292132.892137.738138.662142.115145.277144.585145.477148.600155.354157.177166.231168.469169.154171.592179.344185.350188.824188.694201.309206.830206.612215.781230.354225.371227.044229.406232.631250.606252.430280.130289.987303.402

Adjust hot dogs prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1972 * 1972 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Frankfurters was 46.892 in the year 1972 and 303.402 in 2024:

303.402 / 46.892 * $5 = $32.35

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $32.35 in 2024 (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.

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