Dog Retail-Goods Costs Fell $140 in One Week
Dog retail-goods costs for CostInflation’s annual mid-sized-dog basket fell from $1,115.04 to $974.76 across 12 tracked city areas from August 10 to August 17—a $140.28, or 12.6%, decline.
The move reached every city area in the comparison. It came from dry dog food prices: the dry-food component subtracted $164.54 a year, while the other five goods added back $24.26.
That split matters for anyone comparing the cost of dog ownership per year. A broad basket can fall even when several of its parts rise, provided its largest-moving component falls farther.
The basket represents annual quantities of dry food, wet food, treats, waste bags, training pads, and shampoo for a mid-sized dog.
The $140 decline reached all 12 city areas
Annual basket declines ranged from $34.34 in North Center/Avondale Chicago to $207.13 in East St. Louis. Chicago’s 3.4% fall was the smallest in percentage terms, while East St. Louis recorded the largest at 17.7%.
The August 17 readings formed a relatively tight band. Ridgewood/Glendale New York was lowest at $916.27, and North Jackson was highest at $1,028.48, a difference of about $112.
| City area | August 10 | August 17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL - North Center/Avondale | $1,024.93 | $990.59 | -$34.34 |
| Clayton, MO | $1,157.87 | $1,017.73 | -$140.14 |
| East St. Louis, IL | $1,168.99 | $961.86 | -$207.13 |
| Houston, TX - Midtown | $1,128.35 | $952.21 | -$176.14 |
| Jackson, MS - North Jackson | $1,179.34 | $1,028.48 | -$150.86 |
| Jacksonville, FL - Westside | $1,170.49 | $994.62 | -$175.87 |
| Los Angeles, CA - Mid-City | $1,124.66 | $986.12 | -$138.54 |
| New York, NY - Ridgewood/Glendale | $1,099.98 | $916.27 | -$183.71 |
| Philadelphia, PA - South Philadelphia | $1,098.62 | $1,018.45 | -$80.17 |
| San Antonio, TX - West San Antonio | $1,092.78 | $936.83 | -$155.95 |
| San Jose, CA - Blossom Valley | $1,064.42 | $942.42 | -$122.00 |
| Seattle, WA - Rainier Valley | $1,070.02 | $951.53 | -$118.49 |
Dry dog food subtracted more than the basket lost
The standardized 15-pound dry-food equivalent averaged $39.41 on August 10 and $30.27 on August 17. Applied to the basket’s annual quantity of 18 bags, that $9.14 package decline reduced the annual benchmark by $164.54.
All 12 city areas recorded lower dry-food values. The component therefore explains both the direction of the total and why the decline appeared across the full city panel.
The move also reversed the earlier direction. A July dry dog food analysis found the annual component rising through July 27; the latest week brought it below that late-July level.
Five other goods offset $24.26
Wet dog food prices supplied the largest offset. Its annual contribution rose $15.73, followed by $6.77 from dog treats and $1.58 from waste bags. Training pads and shampoo together added another 17 cents after rounding.
Component rows below are rounded to cents and may differ from the basket total by one cent.
| Annual component | August 10 | August 17 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry dog food | $709.35 | $544.81 | -$164.54 |
| Wet dog food | $145.24 | $160.97 | +$15.73 |
| Dog treats | $203.47 | $210.24 | +$6.77 |
| Dog waste bags | $11.72 | $13.30 | +$1.58 |
| Dog training pads | $22.16 | $22.24 | +$0.08 |
| Dog shampoo | $23.09 | $23.19 | +$0.09 |
The offsets are why dry food accounts for more than 100% of the net decline: it pulled the basket down by $164.54, then the other goods lifted it by $24.26 to the final $140.28 drop.
The next comparison is whether dry food holds near its new level or rebounds again. Follow the live dry dog food price history for the 15-pound benchmark, and the annual dog retail-goods index for the combined effect on recurring costs.