Dallas, Texas prices:$3,500 in 1978$17,189.43 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($3,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $13,689.43 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, $3,500 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $17,189.43 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 $3,500.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,500 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$3,500.007.82%
1979$3,934.7212.42%
1980$4,601.4716.95%
1981$5,141.7911.74%
1982$5,452.446.04%
1983$5,651.813.66%
1984$5,917.474.70%
1985$6,139.093.75%
1986$6,246.581.75%
1987$6,402.382.49%
1988$6,588.492.91%
1989$6,785.482.99%
1990$7,092.344.52%
1991$7,424.304.68%
1992$7,604.252.42%
1993$7,794.622.50%
1994$8,014.822.83%
1995$8,223.652.61%
1996$8,448.592.74%
1997$8,599.171.78%
1998$8,720.881.42%
1999$8,967.122.82%
2000$9,344.074.20%
2001$9,673.663.53%
2002$9,805.301.36%
2003$10,011.772.11%
2004$10,145.311.33%
2005$10,473.013.23%
2006$10,799.763.12%
2007$10,961.931.50%
2008$11,463.474.58%
2009$11,387.87-0.66%
2010$11,454.890.59%
2011$11,801.793.03%
2012$12,049.432.10%
2013$12,268.021.81%
2014$12,413.681.19%
2015$12,351.64-0.50%
2016$12,524.871.40%
2017$12,844.062.55%
2018$13,222.032.94%
2019$13,499.642.10%
2020$13,583.340.62%
2021$14,267.075.03%
2022$15,526.198.83%
2023$16,344.165.27%
2024$16,990.213.95%
2025$17,239.651.47%
2026$17,189.43-0.29%*

* 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* $3,500 = $17,189.43

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,500 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $17,189.43 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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