Dallas, Texas prices: $21 in 1973 $152.09 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1973-2026 ($21)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 624.25% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $131.09 difference in value).

Between 1973 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.81% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21 in Dallas in the year 1973 would cost $152.09 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.82% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 5.18%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), 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 $21.00 since 1973

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1973$21.005.18%
1974$23.089.92%
1975$25.229.24%
1976$26.756.10%
1977$28.727.36%
1978$30.977.82%
1979$34.8112.42%
1980$40.7116.95%
1981$45.4911.74%
1982$48.246.04%
1983$50.013.66%
1984$52.364.70%
1985$54.323.75%
1986$55.271.75%
1987$56.652.49%
1988$58.292.91%
1989$60.042.99%
1990$62.754.52%
1991$65.694.68%
1992$67.282.42%
1993$68.972.50%
1994$70.912.83%
1995$72.762.61%
1996$74.752.74%
1997$76.091.78%
1998$77.161.42%
1999$79.342.82%
2000$82.684.20%
2001$85.593.53%
2002$86.761.36%
2003$88.582.11%
2004$89.771.33%
2005$92.663.23%
2006$95.563.12%
2007$96.991.50%
2008$101.434.58%
2009$100.76-0.66%
2010$101.350.59%
2011$104.423.03%
2012$106.612.10%
2013$108.551.81%
2014$109.841.19%
2015$109.29-0.50%
2016$110.821.40%
2017$113.642.55%
2018$116.992.94%
2019$119.442.10%
2020$120.180.62%
2021$126.235.03%
2022$137.388.83%
2023$144.615.27%
2024$150.333.95%
2025$152.541.47%
2026$152.09-0.29%*

* 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 1973 * 1973 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 41.767 in the year 1973 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 41.767 * $21 = $152.09

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21 in 1973 has the same "purchasing power" as $152.09 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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