Dallas, Texas prices: $31,000 in 1978 $152,249.22 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($31,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $121,249.22 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, $31,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $152,249.22 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
Airline fares · College tuition and fees · Educational books and supplies · Denver, Colorado · More

Buying power of $31,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $31,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$31,000.007.82%
1979$34,850.3612.42%
1980$40,755.9216.95%
1981$45,541.6011.74%
1982$48,293.066.04%
1983$50,058.863.66%
1984$52,411.854.70%
1985$54,374.783.75%
1986$55,326.881.75%
1987$56,706.812.49%
1988$58,355.162.91%
1989$60,099.992.99%
1990$62,817.894.52%
1991$65,758.084.68%
1992$67,351.912.42%
1993$69,038.022.50%
1994$70,988.362.83%
1995$72,838.052.61%
1996$74,830.332.74%
1997$76,164.121.78%
1998$77,242.051.42%
1999$79,423.082.82%
2000$82,761.744.20%
2001$85,680.963.53%
2002$86,846.981.36%
2003$88,675.692.11%
2004$89,858.481.33%
2005$92,760.933.23%
2006$95,654.993.12%
2007$97,091.361.50%
2008$101,533.624.58%
2009$100,863.96-0.66%
2010$101,457.620.59%
2011$104,530.103.03%
2012$106,723.552.10%
2013$108,659.631.81%
2014$109,949.711.19%
2015$109,400.26-0.50%
2016$110,934.531.40%
2017$113,761.652.55%
2018$117,109.452.94%
2019$119,568.232.10%
2020$120,309.610.62%
2021$126,365.505.03%
2022$137,517.698.83%
2023$144,762.585.27%
2024$150,484.683.95%
2025$152,694.061.47%
2026$152,249.22-0.29%*

* 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 * $31,000 = $152,249.22

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $31,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $152,249.22 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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.