Dallas, Texas prices: $42,000 in 1978 $206,273.13 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($42,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $164,273.13 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, $42,000 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $206,273.13 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 $42,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$42,000.007.82%
1979$47,216.6112.42%
1980$55,217.7016.95%
1981$61,701.5311.74%
1982$65,429.316.04%
1983$67,821.683.66%
1984$71,009.614.70%
1985$73,669.063.75%
1986$74,959.001.75%
1987$76,828.582.49%
1988$79,061.832.91%
1989$81,425.792.99%
1990$85,108.104.52%
1991$89,091.604.68%
1992$91,250.982.42%
1993$93,535.382.50%
1994$96,177.782.83%
1995$98,683.802.61%
1996$101,383.032.74%
1997$103,190.101.78%
1998$104,650.521.42%
1999$107,605.472.82%
2000$112,128.814.20%
2001$116,083.893.53%
2002$117,663.641.36%
2003$120,141.252.11%
2004$121,743.741.33%
2005$125,676.093.23%
2006$129,597.083.12%
2007$131,543.141.50%
2008$137,561.684.58%
2009$136,654.40-0.66%
2010$137,458.710.59%
2011$141,621.433.03%
2012$144,593.202.10%
2013$147,216.281.81%
2014$148,964.131.19%
2015$148,219.71-0.50%
2016$150,298.401.40%
2017$154,128.692.55%
2018$158,664.422.94%
2019$161,995.662.10%
2020$163,000.120.62%
2021$171,204.875.03%
2022$186,314.308.83%
2023$196,129.945.27%
2024$203,882.473.95%
2025$206,875.821.47%
2026$206,273.13-0.29%*

* 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 * $42,000 = $206,273.13

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $206,273.13 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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