Dallas, Texas prices: $3,500 in 1971 $27,439.97 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1971-2026 ($3,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 684% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $23,939.97 difference in value).

Between 1971 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.82% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $3,500 in Dallas in the year 1971 would cost $27,439.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.85% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 3.07%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation in Dallas was lower.

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 $3,500.00 since 1971

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,500 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1971$3,500.003.07%
1972$3,602.052.92%
1973$3,788.775.18%
1974$4,164.479.92%
1975$4,549.249.24%
1976$4,826.676.10%
1977$5,181.977.36%
1978$5,587.157.82%
1979$6,281.1012.42%
1980$7,345.4616.95%
1981$8,207.9911.74%
1982$8,703.896.04%
1983$9,022.143.66%
1984$9,446.224.70%
1985$9,800.003.75%
1986$9,971.601.75%
1987$10,220.302.49%
1988$10,517.392.91%
1989$10,831.862.99%
1990$11,321.714.52%
1991$11,851.624.68%
1992$12,138.882.42%
1993$12,442.762.50%
1994$12,794.282.83%
1995$13,127.652.61%
1996$13,486.722.74%
1997$13,727.111.78%
1998$13,921.381.42%
1999$14,314.472.82%
2000$14,916.204.20%
2001$15,442.333.53%
2002$15,652.481.36%
2003$15,982.072.11%
2004$16,195.251.33%
2005$16,718.363.23%
2006$17,239.963.12%
2007$17,498.841.50%
2008$18,299.474.58%
2009$18,178.77-0.66%
2010$18,285.770.59%
2011$18,839.523.03%
2012$19,234.852.10%
2013$19,583.791.81%
2014$19,816.301.19%
2015$19,717.28-0.50%
2016$19,993.801.40%
2017$20,503.332.55%
2018$21,106.712.94%
2019$21,549.862.10%
2020$21,683.480.62%
2021$22,774.935.03%
2022$24,784.908.83%
2023$26,090.655.27%
2024$27,121.953.95%
2025$27,520.141.47%
2026$27,439.97-0.29%*

* 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 1971 * 1971 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 38.583 in the year 1971 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 38.583 * $3,500 = $27,439.97

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,500 in 1971 has the same "purchasing power" as $27,439.97 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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