Dallas, Texas prices: $3.50 in 1966 $34.28 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1966-2026 ($3.50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 879.47% higher in 2026 versus 1966 (a $30.78 difference in value).

Between 1966 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $3.50 in Dallas in the year 1966 would cost $34.28 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1966: Pricing changed by 3.46%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1966-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1966 (3.02%), inflation in Dallas was higher.

Price Inflation in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas since 1963

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (16.95%), 1979 (12.42%), and 1981 (11.74%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $3.50 since 1966

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3.50 beginning in 1966. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1966$3.503.46%
1967$3.613.08%
1968$3.764.14%
1969$3.996.31%
1970$4.246.22%
1971$4.373.07%
1972$4.502.92%
1973$4.735.18%
1974$5.209.92%
1975$5.689.24%
1976$6.036.10%
1977$6.477.36%
1978$6.987.82%
1979$7.8512.42%
1980$9.1816.95%
1981$10.2511.74%
1982$10.876.04%
1983$11.273.66%
1984$11.804.70%
1985$12.243.75%
1986$12.461.75%
1987$12.772.49%
1988$13.142.91%
1989$13.532.99%
1990$14.144.52%
1991$14.814.68%
1992$15.172.42%
1993$15.552.50%
1994$15.982.83%
1995$16.402.61%
1996$16.852.74%
1997$17.151.78%
1998$17.391.42%
1999$17.882.82%
2000$18.644.20%
2001$19.293.53%
2002$19.561.36%
2003$19.972.11%
2004$20.231.33%
2005$20.893.23%
2006$21.543.12%
2007$21.861.50%
2008$22.864.58%
2009$22.71-0.66%
2010$22.840.59%
2011$23.543.03%
2012$24.032.10%
2013$24.471.81%
2014$24.761.19%
2015$24.63-0.50%
2016$24.981.40%
2017$25.622.55%
2018$26.372.94%
2019$26.922.10%
2020$27.090.62%
2021$28.455.03%
2022$30.968.83%
2023$32.605.27%
2024$33.883.95%
2025$34.381.47%
2026$34.28-0.29%*

* 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 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas:

Year1963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.377302.493

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1966 * 1966 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 30.883 in the year 1966 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 30.883 * $3.50 = $34.28

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3.50 in 1966 has the same "purchasing power" as $34.28 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas in 1963. In addition to Dallas, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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