Dallas, Texas prices: $520 in 1972 $3,961.29 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1972-2026 ($520)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 661.79% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $3,441.29 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, $520 in Dallas in the year 1972 would cost $3,961.29 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 $520.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $520 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$520.002.92%
1973$546.955.18%
1974$601.199.92%
1975$656.749.24%
1976$696.796.10%
1977$748.087.36%
1978$806.577.82%
1979$906.7512.42%
1980$1,060.4116.95%
1981$1,184.9211.74%
1982$1,256.516.04%
1983$1,302.463.66%
1984$1,363.684.70%
1985$1,414.753.75%
1986$1,439.521.75%
1987$1,475.422.49%
1988$1,518.312.91%
1989$1,563.712.99%
1990$1,634.434.52%
1991$1,710.934.68%
1992$1,752.392.42%
1993$1,796.262.50%
1994$1,847.012.83%
1995$1,895.142.61%
1996$1,946.972.74%
1997$1,981.671.78%
1998$2,009.721.42%
1999$2,066.472.82%
2000$2,153.334.20%
2001$2,229.293.53%
2002$2,259.631.36%
2003$2,307.212.11%
2004$2,337.981.33%
2005$2,413.503.23%
2006$2,488.803.12%
2007$2,526.171.50%
2008$2,641.754.58%
2009$2,624.33-0.66%
2010$2,639.770.59%
2011$2,719.713.03%
2012$2,776.782.10%
2013$2,827.161.81%
2014$2,860.721.19%
2015$2,846.43-0.50%
2016$2,886.351.40%
2017$2,959.912.55%
2018$3,047.012.94%
2019$3,110.982.10%
2020$3,130.270.62%
2021$3,287.845.03%
2022$3,578.008.83%
2023$3,766.505.27%
2024$3,915.383.95%
2025$3,972.871.47%
2026$3,961.29-0.29%*

* 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 * $520 = $3,961.29

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $520 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $3,961.29 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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