Dallas, Texas prices: $38,500 in 1970 $312,044.97 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1970-2025 ($38,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 710.51% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $273,544.97 difference in value).

Between 1970 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38,500 in Dallas in the year 1970 would cost $312,044.97 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.92% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 6.22%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1970-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), 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
Women's apparel · Televisions · Fish and seafood · Wireless telephone services · More

Buying power of $38,500.00 since 1970

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38,500 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1970$38,500.006.22%
1971$39,682.773.07%
1972$40,839.832.92%
1973$42,956.815.18%
1974$47,216.509.92%
1975$51,579.039.24%
1976$54,724.516.10%
1977$58,752.787.36%
1978$63,346.737.82%
1979$71,214.7212.42%
1980$83,282.3916.95%
1981$93,061.6711.74%
1982$98,684.116.04%
1983$102,292.413.66%
1984$107,100.624.70%
1985$111,111.753.75%
1986$113,057.321.75%
1987$115,877.112.49%
1988$119,245.442.91%
1989$122,810.892.99%
1990$128,364.764.52%
1991$134,372.894.68%
1992$137,629.792.42%
1993$141,075.242.50%
1994$145,060.662.83%
1995$148,840.382.61%
1996$152,911.512.74%
1997$155,637.021.78%
1998$157,839.721.42%
1999$162,296.532.82%
2000$169,118.884.20%
2001$175,084.153.53%
2002$177,466.831.36%
2003$181,203.702.11%
2004$183,620.661.33%
2005$189,551.653.23%
2006$195,465.493.12%
2007$198,400.651.50%
2008$207,478.154.58%
2009$206,109.73-0.66%
2010$207,322.840.59%
2011$213,601.293.03%
2012$218,083.472.10%
2013$222,039.751.81%
2014$224,675.961.19%
2015$223,553.18-0.50%
2016$226,688.381.40%
2017$232,465.432.55%
2018$239,306.472.94%
2019$244,330.842.10%
2020$245,845.810.62%
2021$258,220.675.03%
2022$281,009.558.83%
2023$295,814.055.27%
2024$307,506.843.95%
2025$312,044.971.48%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.400

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1970 * 1970 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 37.433 in the year 1970 and 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 37.433 * $38,500 = $312,044.97

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38,500 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" as $312,044.97 in 2025 (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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