Dallas, Texas prices: $4,200 in 1978 $20,627.31 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($4,200)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $16,427.31 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, $4,200 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $20,627.31 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 $4,200.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $4,200 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$4,200.007.82%
1979$4,721.6612.42%
1980$5,521.7716.95%
1981$6,170.1511.74%
1982$6,542.936.04%
1983$6,782.173.66%
1984$7,100.964.70%
1985$7,366.913.75%
1986$7,495.901.75%
1987$7,682.862.49%
1988$7,906.182.91%
1989$8,142.582.99%
1990$8,510.814.52%
1991$8,909.164.68%
1992$9,125.102.42%
1993$9,353.542.50%
1994$9,617.782.83%
1995$9,868.382.61%
1996$10,138.302.74%
1997$10,319.011.78%
1998$10,465.051.42%
1999$10,760.552.82%
2000$11,212.884.20%
2001$11,608.393.53%
2002$11,766.361.36%
2003$12,014.132.11%
2004$12,174.371.33%
2005$12,567.613.23%
2006$12,959.713.12%
2007$13,154.311.50%
2008$13,756.174.58%
2009$13,665.44-0.66%
2010$13,745.870.59%
2011$14,162.143.03%
2012$14,459.322.10%
2013$14,721.631.81%
2014$14,896.411.19%
2015$14,821.97-0.50%
2016$15,029.841.40%
2017$15,412.872.55%
2018$15,866.442.94%
2019$16,199.572.10%
2020$16,300.010.62%
2021$17,120.495.03%
2022$18,631.438.83%
2023$19,612.995.27%
2024$20,388.253.95%
2025$20,687.581.47%
2026$20,627.31-0.29%*

* 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 * $4,200 = $20,627.31

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $4,200 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $20,627.31 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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