Hot dogs price history from 1986 through 2020

Hot Dogs Inflation Calculator

Prices for Hot Dogs, 1986-2020 ($5)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for frankfurters were 145.58% higher in 2020 versus 1986 (a $7.28 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2020: Hot dogs experienced an average inflation rate of 2.68% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, hot dogs costing $5 in the year 1986 would cost $12.28 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.56% during this same period, inflation for hot dogs was higher.

In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 2.16%, which is below the average yearly change for hot dogs during the 1986-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation for hot dogs was 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%).

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
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

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Buying power of $5 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Hot dogs, over time, for $5 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1986	$5.00	2.16%
1987	$5.36	7.26%
1988	$5.52	2.97%
1989	$5.69	2.98%
1990	$6.33	11.35%
1991	$6.51	2.82%
1992	$6.43	-1.18%
1993	$6.51	1.22%
1994	$6.75	3.65%
1995	$6.79	0.67%
1996	$6.96	2.49%
1997	$7.12	2.22%
1998	$7.08	-0.48%
1999	$7.13	0.62%
2000	$7.28	2.15%
2001	$7.61	4.54%
2002	$7.70	1.17%
2003	$8.14	5.76%
2004	$8.25	1.35%
2005	$8.29	0.41%
2006	$8.41	1.44%
2007	$8.79	4.52%
2008	$9.08	3.35%
2009	$9.25	1.87%
2010	$9.25	-0.07%
2011	$9.86	6.69%
2012	$10.13	2.74%
2013	$10.12	-0.11%
2014	$10.57	4.44%
2015	$11.29	6.75%
2016	$11.04	-2.16%
2017	$11.12	0.74%
2018	$11.24	1.04%
2019	$11.40	1.41%
2020	$12.28	7.73%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for hot dogs, 1986-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1986 * 1986 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Frankfurters was 102.046 in the year 1986 and 250.606 in 2020:

250.606 / 102.046 * $5 = $12.28

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $12.28 in 2020 (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.