Dallas, Texas prices: $3,500 in 1972 $26,662.55 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1972-2026 ($3,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 661.79% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $23,162.55 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, $3,500 in Dallas in the year 1972 would cost $26,662.55 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
Alcoholic beverages · Gasoline (all types) · Airline fares · Rent of primary residence · More

Buying power of $3,500.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,500 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$3,500.002.92%
1973$3,681.435.18%
1974$4,046.489.92%
1975$4,420.369.24%
1976$4,689.936.10%
1977$5,035.157.36%
1978$5,428.867.82%
1979$6,103.1512.42%
1980$7,137.3616.95%
1981$7,975.4511.74%
1982$8,457.296.04%
1983$8,766.533.66%
1984$9,178.594.70%
1985$9,522.353.75%
1986$9,689.091.75%
1987$9,930.752.49%
1988$10,219.412.91%
1989$10,524.972.99%
1990$11,000.944.52%
1991$11,515.844.68%
1992$11,794.962.42%
1993$12,090.242.50%
1994$12,431.792.83%
1995$12,755.722.61%
1996$13,104.622.74%
1997$13,338.201.78%
1998$13,526.971.42%
1999$13,908.922.82%
2000$14,493.604.20%
2001$15,004.833.53%
2002$15,209.021.36%
2003$15,529.282.11%
2004$15,736.411.33%
2005$16,244.703.23%
2006$16,751.523.12%
2007$17,003.071.50%
2008$17,781.014.58%
2009$17,663.74-0.66%
2010$17,767.700.59%
2011$18,305.773.03%
2012$18,689.902.10%
2013$19,028.951.81%
2014$19,254.881.19%
2015$19,158.65-0.50%
2016$19,427.341.40%
2017$19,922.442.55%
2018$20,508.722.94%
2019$20,939.312.10%
2020$21,069.150.62%
2021$22,129.685.03%
2022$24,082.708.83%
2023$25,351.465.27%
2024$26,353.543.95%
2025$26,740.451.47%
2026$26,662.55-0.29%*

* 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 * $3,500 = $26,662.55

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,500 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $26,662.55 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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