Dallas, Texas prices: $3,200 in 1978 $15,716.05 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($3,200)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $12,516.05 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, $3,200 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $15,716.05 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
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Buying power of $3,200.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,200 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$3,200.007.82%
1979$3,597.4612.42%
1980$4,207.0616.95%
1981$4,701.0711.74%
1982$4,985.096.04%
1983$5,167.373.66%
1984$5,410.264.70%
1985$5,612.883.75%
1986$5,711.161.75%
1987$5,853.612.49%
1988$6,023.762.91%
1989$6,203.872.99%
1990$6,484.434.52%
1991$6,787.934.68%
1992$6,952.462.42%
1993$7,126.512.50%
1994$7,327.832.83%
1995$7,518.772.61%
1996$7,724.422.74%
1997$7,862.101.78%
1998$7,973.371.42%
1999$8,198.512.82%
2000$8,543.154.20%
2001$8,844.493.53%
2002$8,964.851.36%
2003$9,153.622.11%
2004$9,275.711.33%
2005$9,575.323.23%
2006$9,874.063.12%
2007$10,022.331.50%
2008$10,480.894.58%
2009$10,411.76-0.66%
2010$10,473.040.59%
2011$10,790.203.03%
2012$11,016.622.10%
2013$11,216.481.81%
2014$11,349.651.19%
2015$11,292.93-0.50%
2016$11,451.311.40%
2017$11,743.142.55%
2018$12,088.722.94%
2019$12,342.532.10%
2020$12,419.060.62%
2021$13,044.185.03%
2022$14,195.378.83%
2023$14,943.235.27%
2024$15,533.903.95%
2025$15,761.971.47%
2026$15,716.05-0.29%*

* 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 * $3,200 = $15,716.05

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,200 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $15,716.05 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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