Dallas, Texas prices: $3 in 1972 $22.85 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1972-2026 ($3)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 661.79% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $19.85 difference in value).

Between 1972 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $3 in Dallas in the year 1972 would cost $22.85 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% 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 1972-2026 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
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Buying power of $3.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$3.002.92%
1973$3.165.18%
1974$3.479.92%
1975$3.799.24%
1976$4.026.10%
1977$4.327.36%
1978$4.657.82%
1979$5.2312.42%
1980$6.1216.95%
1981$6.8411.74%
1982$7.256.04%
1983$7.513.66%
1984$7.874.70%
1985$8.163.75%
1986$8.301.75%
1987$8.512.49%
1988$8.762.91%
1989$9.022.99%
1990$9.434.52%
1991$9.874.68%
1992$10.112.42%
1993$10.362.50%
1994$10.662.83%
1995$10.932.61%
1996$11.232.74%
1997$11.431.78%
1998$11.591.42%
1999$11.922.82%
2000$12.424.20%
2001$12.863.53%
2002$13.041.36%
2003$13.312.11%
2004$13.491.33%
2005$13.923.23%
2006$14.363.12%
2007$14.571.50%
2008$15.244.58%
2009$15.14-0.66%
2010$15.230.59%
2011$15.693.03%
2012$16.022.10%
2013$16.311.81%
2014$16.501.19%
2015$16.42-0.50%
2016$16.651.40%
2017$17.082.55%
2018$17.582.94%
2019$17.952.10%
2020$18.060.62%
2021$18.975.03%
2022$20.648.83%
2023$21.735.27%
2024$22.593.95%
2025$22.921.47%
2026$22.85-0.29%*

* 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 1972 * 1972 USD value = 2026 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 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 39.708 * $3 = $22.85

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $22.85 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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