Dallas, Texas prices: $42,000 in 1971 $330,266.49 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Dallas, 1971-2025 ($42,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 686.35% higher in 2025 versus 1971 (a $288,266.49 difference in value).

Between 1971 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.89% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $42,000 in Dallas in the year 1971 would cost $330,266.49 in 2025 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 1971: Pricing changed by 3.07%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1971-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), 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
Gasoline (all types) · Educational books and supplies · Denver, Colorado · Legal services · More

Buying power of $42,000.00 since 1971

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42,000 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1971$42,000.003.07%
1972$43,224.622.92%
1973$45,465.235.18%
1974$49,973.659.92%
1975$54,590.939.24%
1976$57,920.096.10%
1977$62,183.597.36%
1978$67,045.797.82%
1979$75,373.2212.42%
1980$88,145.5716.95%
1981$98,495.9011.74%
1982$104,446.656.04%
1983$108,265.663.66%
1984$113,354.644.70%
1985$117,600.003.75%
1986$119,659.181.75%
1987$122,643.632.49%
1988$126,208.642.91%
1989$129,982.292.99%
1990$135,860.484.52%
1991$142,219.444.68%
1992$145,666.522.42%
1993$149,313.172.50%
1994$153,531.322.83%
1995$157,531.752.61%
1996$161,840.602.74%
1997$164,725.271.78%
1998$167,056.591.42%
1999$171,773.652.82%
2000$178,994.384.20%
2001$185,307.993.53%
2002$187,829.811.36%
2003$191,784.882.11%
2004$194,342.981.33%
2005$200,620.303.23%
2006$206,879.483.12%
2007$209,986.031.50%
2008$219,593.604.58%
2009$218,145.28-0.66%
2010$219,429.230.59%
2011$226,074.303.03%
2012$230,818.212.10%
2013$235,005.511.81%
2014$237,795.651.19%
2015$236,607.32-0.50%
2016$239,925.591.40%
2017$246,039.992.55%
2018$253,280.502.94%
2019$258,598.262.10%
2020$260,201.700.62%
2021$273,299.175.03%
2022$297,418.788.83%
2023$313,087.785.27%
2024$325,463.353.95%
2025$330,266.491.48%*

* 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 1971 * 1971 USD value = 2025 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 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 38.583 * $42,000 = $330,266.49

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42,000 in 1971 has the same "purchasing power" as $330,266.49 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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.