Dallas, Texas prices: $42 in 1976 $239.49 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1976-2025 ($42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 470.21% higher in 2025 versus 1976 (a $197.49 difference in value).

Between 1976 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $42 in Dallas in the year 1976 would cost $239.49 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.59% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was higher.

In the year 1976: Pricing changed by 6.10%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1976-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1976 (5.75%), inflation in Dallas was higher.

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 $42.00 since 1976

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1976$42.006.10%
1977$45.097.36%
1978$48.627.82%
1979$54.6612.42%
1980$63.9216.95%
1981$71.4211.74%
1982$75.746.04%
1983$78.513.66%
1984$82.204.70%
1985$85.283.75%
1986$86.771.75%
1987$88.932.49%
1988$91.522.91%
1989$94.252.99%
1990$98.524.52%
1991$103.134.68%
1992$105.632.42%
1993$108.272.50%
1994$111.332.83%
1995$114.232.61%
1996$117.362.74%
1997$119.451.78%
1998$121.141.42%
1999$124.562.82%
2000$129.804.20%
2001$134.373.53%
2002$136.201.36%
2003$139.072.11%
2004$140.931.33%
2005$145.483.23%
2006$150.023.12%
2007$152.271.50%
2008$159.244.58%
2009$158.19-0.66%
2010$159.120.59%
2011$163.933.03%
2012$167.372.10%
2013$170.411.81%
2014$172.431.19%
2015$171.57-0.50%
2016$173.981.40%
2017$178.412.55%
2018$183.662.94%
2019$187.522.10%
2020$188.680.62%
2021$198.185.03%
2022$215.678.83%
2023$227.035.27%
2024$236.013.95%
2025$239.491.48%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.400

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1976 * 1976 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 53.208 in the year 1976 and 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 53.208 * $42 = $239.49

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42 in 1976 has the same "purchasing power" as $239.49 in 2025 (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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