Dallas, Texas prices: $38 in 1974 $250.38 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1974-2026 ($38)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 558.91% higher in 2026 versus 1974 (a $212.38 difference in value).

Between 1974 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.69% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38 in Dallas in the year 1974 would cost $250.38 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was higher.

In the year 1974: Pricing changed by 9.92%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1974-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1974 (11.05%), 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 $38.00 since 1974

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38 beginning in 1974. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1974$38.009.92%
1975$41.519.24%
1976$44.046.10%
1977$47.287.36%
1978$50.987.82%
1979$57.3112.42%
1980$67.0316.95%
1981$74.9011.74%
1982$79.426.04%
1983$82.333.66%
1984$86.194.70%
1985$89.423.75%
1986$90.991.75%
1987$93.262.49%
1988$95.972.91%
1989$98.842.99%
1990$103.314.52%
1991$108.144.68%
1992$110.762.42%
1993$113.542.50%
1994$116.752.83%
1995$119.792.61%
1996$123.062.74%
1997$125.261.78%
1998$127.031.42%
1999$130.622.82%
2000$136.114.20%
2001$140.913.53%
2002$142.831.36%
2003$145.832.11%
2004$147.781.33%
2005$152.553.23%
2006$157.313.12%
2007$159.671.50%
2008$166.984.58%
2009$165.88-0.66%
2010$166.850.59%
2011$171.913.03%
2012$175.512.10%
2013$178.701.81%
2014$180.821.19%
2015$179.92-0.50%
2016$182.441.40%
2017$187.092.55%
2018$192.592.94%
2019$196.642.10%
2020$197.860.62%
2021$207.825.03%
2022$226.168.83%
2023$238.075.27%
2024$247.483.95%
2025$251.121.47%
2026$250.38-0.29%*

* 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 1974 * 1974 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 45.908 in the year 1974 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 45.908 * $38 = $250.38

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38 in 1974 has the same "purchasing power" as $250.38 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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