Costco's new leadership says the $1.50 price tag on its beloved hot dog combo is "safe." Experts explain how the retailer has defied inflation — and why it's willing to eat the cost.

If Costco’s hot dog deal kept pace with inflation, it would be three times as expensive today — nearly $4.50. But Costco’s $1.50 combo is a strategic decision, known as a loss-leader: The ...

But if the retailer did increase the price for inflation, that $1.50 hot dog and soda combo would cost you $4.55, just over three times as much, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ...

The franks have been a longstanding customer favorite staple at Costco, and the $1.50 hot dog-soda combo’s price has remained unchanged since 1985 thanks to a pledge made by the grocer’s founders.