Dallas, Texas prices: $42 in 1971 $329.28 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1971-2026 ($42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 684% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $287.28 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, $42 in Dallas in the year 1971 would cost $329.28 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 $42.00 since 1971

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1971$42.003.07%
1972$43.222.92%
1973$45.475.18%
1974$49.979.92%
1975$54.599.24%
1976$57.926.10%
1977$62.187.36%
1978$67.057.82%
1979$75.3712.42%
1980$88.1516.95%
1981$98.5011.74%
1982$104.456.04%
1983$108.273.66%
1984$113.354.70%
1985$117.603.75%
1986$119.661.75%
1987$122.642.49%
1988$126.212.91%
1989$129.982.99%
1990$135.864.52%
1991$142.224.68%
1992$145.672.42%
1993$149.312.50%
1994$153.532.83%
1995$157.532.61%
1996$161.842.74%
1997$164.731.78%
1998$167.061.42%
1999$171.772.82%
2000$178.994.20%
2001$185.313.53%
2002$187.831.36%
2003$191.782.11%
2004$194.341.33%
2005$200.623.23%
2006$206.883.12%
2007$209.991.50%
2008$219.594.58%
2009$218.15-0.66%
2010$219.430.59%
2011$226.073.03%
2012$230.822.10%
2013$235.011.81%
2014$237.801.19%
2015$236.61-0.50%
2016$239.931.40%
2017$246.042.55%
2018$253.282.94%
2019$258.602.10%
2020$260.200.62%
2021$273.305.03%
2022$297.428.83%
2023$313.095.27%
2024$325.463.95%
2025$330.241.47%
2026$329.28-0.29%*

* 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 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 * $42 = $329.28

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42 in 1971 has the same "purchasing power" as $329.28 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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