Dallas, Texas prices: $40,000 in 1978 $196,450.60 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($40,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $156,450.60 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, $40,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $196,450.60 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
Admission to sporting events · Fresh fruits · Bread · Wireless telephone services · More

Buying power of $40,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $40,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$40,000.007.82%
1979$44,968.2012.42%
1980$52,588.2816.95%
1981$58,763.3611.74%
1982$62,313.626.04%
1983$64,592.073.66%
1984$67,628.204.70%
1985$70,161.013.75%
1986$71,389.531.75%
1987$73,170.072.49%
1988$75,296.982.91%
1989$77,548.372.99%
1990$81,055.344.52%
1991$84,849.144.68%
1992$86,905.702.42%
1993$89,081.322.50%
1994$91,597.892.83%
1995$93,984.582.61%
1996$96,555.272.74%
1997$98,276.281.78%
1998$99,667.161.42%
1999$102,481.402.82%
2000$106,789.344.20%
2001$110,556.083.53%
2002$112,060.611.36%
2003$114,420.242.11%
2004$115,946.421.33%
2005$119,691.523.23%
2006$123,425.793.12%
2007$125,279.181.50%
2008$131,011.124.58%
2009$130,147.04-0.66%
2010$130,913.060.59%
2011$134,877.553.03%
2012$137,707.812.10%
2013$140,205.981.81%
2014$141,870.601.19%
2015$141,161.63-0.50%
2016$143,141.331.40%
2017$146,789.232.55%
2018$151,108.972.94%
2019$154,281.592.10%
2020$155,238.210.62%
2021$163,052.255.03%
2022$177,442.198.83%
2023$186,790.425.27%
2024$194,173.783.95%
2025$197,024.591.47%
2026$196,450.60-0.29%*

* 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 * $40,000 = $196,450.60

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $40,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $196,450.60 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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