Dallas, Texas prices: $21 in 1972 $160.45 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Dallas, 1972-2025 ($21)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 664.07% higher in 2025 versus 1972 (a $139.45 difference in value).

Between 1972 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21 in Dallas in the year 1972 would cost $160.45 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 1972: Pricing changed by 2.92%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1972-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), 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
Atlanta, Georgia · Frankfurters · San Diego, California · Medical care · More

Buying power of $21.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$21.002.92%
1973$22.095.18%
1974$24.289.92%
1975$26.529.24%
1976$28.146.10%
1977$30.217.36%
1978$32.577.82%
1979$36.6212.42%
1980$42.8216.95%
1981$47.8511.74%
1982$50.746.04%
1983$52.603.66%
1984$55.074.70%
1985$57.133.75%
1986$58.131.75%
1987$59.582.49%
1988$61.322.91%
1989$63.152.99%
1990$66.014.52%
1991$69.104.68%
1992$70.772.42%
1993$72.542.50%
1994$74.592.83%
1995$76.532.61%
1996$78.632.74%
1997$80.031.78%
1998$81.161.42%
1999$83.452.82%
2000$86.964.20%
2001$90.033.53%
2002$91.251.36%
2003$93.182.11%
2004$94.421.33%
2005$97.473.23%
2006$100.513.12%
2007$102.021.50%
2008$106.694.58%
2009$105.98-0.66%
2010$106.610.59%
2011$109.833.03%
2012$112.142.10%
2013$114.171.81%
2014$115.531.19%
2015$114.95-0.50%
2016$116.561.40%
2017$119.532.55%
2018$123.052.94%
2019$125.642.10%
2020$126.410.62%
2021$132.785.03%
2022$144.508.83%
2023$152.115.27%
2024$158.123.95%
2025$160.451.48%*

* 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 1972 * 1972 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 39.708 in the year 1972 and 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 39.708 * $21 = $160.45

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $160.45 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.