Dallas, Texas prices: $42 in 1973 $304.18 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1973-2026 ($42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 624.25% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $262.18 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, $42 in Dallas in the year 1973 would cost $304.18 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
Dental services · Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas · Gasoline (all types) · San Diego, California · More

Buying power of $42.00 since 1973

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1973$42.005.18%
1974$46.169.92%
1975$50.439.24%
1976$53.516.10%
1977$57.447.36%
1978$61.947.82%
1979$69.6312.42%
1980$81.4316.95%
1981$90.9911.74%
1982$96.496.04%
1983$100.013.66%
1984$104.724.70%
1985$108.643.75%
1986$110.541.75%
1987$113.302.49%
1988$116.592.91%
1989$120.082.99%
1990$125.514.52%
1991$131.384.68%
1992$134.562.42%
1993$137.932.50%
1994$141.832.83%
1995$145.532.61%
1996$149.512.74%
1997$152.171.78%
1998$154.321.42%
1999$158.682.82%
2000$165.354.20%
2001$171.183.53%
2002$173.511.36%
2003$177.172.11%
2004$179.531.33%
2005$185.333.23%
2006$191.113.12%
2007$193.981.50%
2008$202.864.58%
2009$201.52-0.66%
2010$202.700.59%
2011$208.843.03%
2012$213.232.10%
2013$217.091.81%
2014$219.671.19%
2015$218.57-0.50%
2016$221.641.40%
2017$227.292.55%
2018$233.982.94%
2019$238.892.10%
2020$240.370.62%
2021$252.475.03%
2022$274.758.83%
2023$289.235.27%
2024$300.663.95%
2025$305.071.47%
2026$304.18-0.29%*

* 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 * $42 = $304.18

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42 in 1973 has the same "purchasing power" as $304.18 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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