Dallas, Texas prices:$3,950 in 1978$19,448.37 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

$

Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($3,950)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 392.36% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $15,498.37 difference in value).

Between 1978 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.38% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $3,950 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $19,448.37 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.41% 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
Indoor plants and flowers · Fish and seafood · San Diego, California · Gasoline (all types) · More

Buying power of $3,950.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,950 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$3,950.007.82%
1979$4,440.6112.42%
1980$5,193.0916.95%
1981$5,802.8811.74%
1982$6,153.476.04%
1983$6,378.473.66%
1984$6,678.284.70%
1985$6,928.403.75%
1986$7,049.721.75%
1987$7,225.542.49%
1988$7,435.582.91%
1989$7,657.902.99%
1990$8,004.214.52%
1991$8,378.854.68%
1992$8,581.942.42%
1993$8,796.782.50%
1994$9,045.292.83%
1995$9,280.982.61%
1996$9,534.832.74%
1997$9,704.781.78%
1998$9,842.131.42%
1999$10,120.042.82%
2000$10,545.454.20%
2001$10,917.413.53%
2002$11,065.991.36%
2003$11,299.002.11%
2004$11,449.711.33%
2005$11,819.543.23%
2006$12,188.303.12%
2007$12,371.321.50%
2008$12,937.354.58%
2009$12,852.02-0.66%
2010$12,927.660.59%
2011$13,319.163.03%
2012$13,598.652.10%
2013$13,845.341.81%
2014$14,009.721.19%
2015$13,939.71-0.50%
2016$14,135.211.40%
2017$14,495.442.55%
2018$14,922.012.94%
2019$15,235.312.10%
2020$15,329.770.62%
2021$16,101.415.03%
2022$17,522.428.83%
2023$18,445.555.27%
2024$19,174.663.95%
2025$19,451.451.44%
2026$19,448.37-0.02%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.303303.255

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 303.255 in 2026:

303.255 / 61.592* $3,950 = $19,448.37

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,950 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $19,448.37 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.