According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for frankfurters are 536% higher in 2025 versus 1972 (a $26.80 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 2025: Hot dogs experienced an average inflation rate of 3.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hot dogs costing $5 in the year 1972 would cost $31.80 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% 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 1972-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for hot dogs was much higher.
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):
| Year | Average price (Hot dogs) | Inflation adjusted price (2025 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 |
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:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $5.00 | 8.41% |
| 1973 | $6.51 | 30.12% |
| 1974 | $6.42 | -1.39% |
| 1975 | $6.64 | 3.49% |
| 1976 | $6.69 | 0.80% |
| 1977 | $6.53 | -2.40% |
| 1978 | $8.10 | 24.00% |
| 1979 | $9.52 | 17.59% |
| 1980 | $9.86 | 3.53% |
| 1981 | $10.30 | 4.41% |
| 1982 | $10.72 | 4.16% |
| 1983 | $10.63 | -0.86% |
| 1984 | $10.63 | 0.02% |
| 1985 | $10.65 | 0.16% |
| 1986 | $10.88 | 2.16% |
| 1987 | $11.67 | 7.26% |
| 1988 | $12.02 | 2.97% |
| 1989 | $12.37 | 2.98% |
| 1990 | $13.78 | 11.35% |
| 1991 | $14.17 | 2.82% |
| 1992 | $14.00 | -1.18% |
| 1993 | $14.17 | 1.22% |
| 1994 | $14.69 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $14.79 | 0.67% |
| 1996 | $15.15 | 2.49% |
| 1997 | $15.49 | 2.22% |
| 1998 | $15.42 | -0.48% |
| 1999 | $15.51 | 0.62% |
| 2000 | $15.84 | 2.15% |
| 2001 | $16.56 | 4.54% |
| 2002 | $16.76 | 1.17% |
| 2003 | $17.72 | 5.76% |
| 2004 | $17.96 | 1.35% |
| 2005 | $18.04 | 0.41% |
| 2006 | $18.30 | 1.44% |
| 2007 | $19.12 | 4.52% |
| 2008 | $19.76 | 3.35% |
| 2009 | $20.13 | 1.87% |
| 2010 | $20.12 | -0.07% |
| 2011 | $21.47 | 6.69% |
| 2012 | $22.05 | 2.74% |
| 2013 | $22.03 | -0.11% |
| 2014 | $23.01 | 4.44% |
| 2015 | $24.56 | 6.75% |
| 2016 | $24.03 | -2.16% |
| 2017 | $24.21 | 0.74% |
| 2018 | $24.46 | 1.04% |
| 2019 | $24.80 | 1.41% |
| 2020 | $26.72 | 7.73% |
| 2021 | $26.92 | 0.73% |
| 2022 | $29.87 | 10.97% |
| 2023 | $30.92 | 3.52% |
| 2024 | $32.49 | 5.06% |
| 2025 | $31.80 | -2.11%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 33.562 | 33.054 | 30.085 | 28.800 | 27.600 | 27.038 | 29.500 | 33.677 | 33.331 | 32.508 | 33.031 | 33.162 | 33.108 | 32.838 | 34.962 | 38.208 | 37.615 | 37.700 | 40.969 | 43.708 | 43.254 | 46.892 | 61.015 | 60.169 | 62.269 | 62.769 | 61.262 | 75.962 | 89.323 | 92.477 | 96.554 | 100.569 | 99.700 | 99.723 | 99.885 | 102.046 | 109.454 | 112.700 | 116.054 | 129.223 | 132.862 | 131.292 | 132.892 | 137.738 | 138.662 | 142.115 | 145.277 | 144.585 | 145.477 | 148.600 | 155.354 | 157.177 | 166.231 | 168.469 | 169.154 | 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 | 298.236 |