Dallas, Texas prices: $38,000 in 1971 $297,919.67 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1971-2026 ($38,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 684% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $259,919.67 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, $38,000 in Dallas in the year 1971 would cost $297,919.67 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 $38,000.00 since 1971

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38,000 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1971$38,000.003.07%
1972$39,107.992.92%
1973$41,135.215.18%
1974$45,214.259.92%
1975$49,391.799.24%
1976$52,403.896.10%
1977$56,261.347.36%
1978$60,660.487.82%
1979$68,194.8212.42%
1980$79,750.7616.95%
1981$89,115.3311.74%
1982$94,499.356.04%
1983$97,954.643.66%
1984$102,558.964.70%
1985$106,400.003.75%
1986$108,263.071.75%
1987$110,963.282.49%
1988$114,188.772.91%
1989$117,603.022.99%
1990$122,921.384.52%
1991$128,674.734.68%
1992$131,793.522.42%
1993$135,092.872.50%
1994$138,909.292.83%
1995$142,528.732.61%
1996$146,427.212.74%
1997$149,037.151.78%
1998$151,146.441.42%
1999$155,414.252.82%
2000$161,947.304.20%
2001$167,659.613.53%
2002$169,941.251.36%
2003$173,519.652.11%
2004$175,834.131.33%
2005$181,513.613.23%
2006$187,176.673.12%
2007$189,987.361.50%
2008$198,679.924.58%
2009$197,369.54-0.66%
2010$198,531.210.59%
2011$204,543.413.03%
2012$208,835.522.10%
2013$212,624.031.81%
2014$215,148.451.19%
2015$214,073.29-0.50%
2016$217,075.531.40%
2017$222,607.612.55%
2018$229,158.552.94%
2019$233,969.862.10%
2020$235,420.590.62%
2021$247,270.685.03%
2022$269,093.188.83%
2023$283,269.895.27%
2024$294,466.843.95%
2025$298,790.131.47%
2026$297,919.67-0.29%*

* 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 * $38,000 = $297,919.67

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38,000 in 1971 has the same "purchasing power" as $297,919.67 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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