Dallas, Texas prices: $21 in 1978 $103.14 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($21)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $82.14 difference in value).

Between 1978 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.37% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $103.14 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.82%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), 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
Women's apparel · Hospital services · Financial services · Public transportation · More

Buying power of $21.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$21.007.82%
1979$23.6112.42%
1980$27.6116.95%
1981$30.8511.74%
1982$32.716.04%
1983$33.913.66%
1984$35.504.70%
1985$36.833.75%
1986$37.481.75%
1987$38.412.49%
1988$39.532.91%
1989$40.712.99%
1990$42.554.52%
1991$44.554.68%
1992$45.632.42%
1993$46.772.50%
1994$48.092.83%
1995$49.342.61%
1996$50.692.74%
1997$51.601.78%
1998$52.331.42%
1999$53.802.82%
2000$56.064.20%
2001$58.043.53%
2002$58.831.36%
2003$60.072.11%
2004$60.871.33%
2005$62.843.23%
2006$64.803.12%
2007$65.771.50%
2008$68.784.58%
2009$68.33-0.66%
2010$68.730.59%
2011$70.813.03%
2012$72.302.10%
2013$73.611.81%
2014$74.481.19%
2015$74.11-0.50%
2016$75.151.40%
2017$77.062.55%
2018$79.332.94%
2019$81.002.10%
2020$81.500.62%
2021$85.605.03%
2022$93.168.83%
2023$98.065.27%
2024$101.943.95%
2025$103.441.47%
2026$103.14-0.29%*

* 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 1978 * 1978 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 61.592 in the year 1978 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 61.592 * $21 = $103.14

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $103.14 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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