Dallas, Texas prices: $4,500 in 1978 $22,100.69 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($4,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $17,600.69 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, $4,500 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $22,100.69 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 $4,500.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $4,500 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$4,500.007.82%
1979$5,058.9212.42%
1980$5,916.1816.95%
1981$6,610.8811.74%
1982$7,010.286.04%
1983$7,266.613.66%
1984$7,608.174.70%
1985$7,893.113.75%
1986$8,031.321.75%
1987$8,231.632.49%
1988$8,470.912.91%
1989$8,724.192.99%
1990$9,118.734.52%
1991$9,545.534.68%
1992$9,776.892.42%
1993$10,021.652.50%
1994$10,304.762.83%
1995$10,573.262.61%
1996$10,862.472.74%
1997$11,056.081.78%
1998$11,212.561.42%
1999$11,529.162.82%
2000$12,013.804.20%
2001$12,437.563.53%
2002$12,606.821.36%
2003$12,872.282.11%
2004$13,043.971.33%
2005$13,465.303.23%
2006$13,885.403.12%
2007$14,093.911.50%
2008$14,738.754.58%
2009$14,641.54-0.66%
2010$14,727.720.59%
2011$15,173.723.03%
2012$15,492.132.10%
2013$15,773.171.81%
2014$15,960.441.19%
2015$15,880.68-0.50%
2016$16,103.401.40%
2017$16,513.792.55%
2018$16,999.762.94%
2019$17,356.682.10%
2020$17,464.300.62%
2021$18,343.385.03%
2022$19,962.258.83%
2023$21,013.925.27%
2024$21,844.553.95%
2025$22,165.271.47%
2026$22,100.69-0.29%*

* 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 * $4,500 = $22,100.69

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $4,500 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $22,100.69 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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