Dallas, Texas prices: $46 in 1978 $225.92 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($46)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $179.92 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, $46 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $225.92 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 $46.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $46 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$46.007.82%
1979$51.7112.42%
1980$60.4816.95%
1981$67.5811.74%
1982$71.666.04%
1983$74.283.66%
1984$77.774.70%
1985$80.693.75%
1986$82.101.75%
1987$84.152.49%
1988$86.592.91%
1989$89.182.99%
1990$93.214.52%
1991$97.584.68%
1992$99.942.42%
1993$102.442.50%
1994$105.342.83%
1995$108.082.61%
1996$111.042.74%
1997$113.021.78%
1998$114.621.42%
1999$117.852.82%
2000$122.814.20%
2001$127.143.53%
2002$128.871.36%
2003$131.582.11%
2004$133.341.33%
2005$137.653.23%
2006$141.943.12%
2007$144.071.50%
2008$150.664.58%
2009$149.67-0.66%
2010$150.550.59%
2011$155.113.03%
2012$158.362.10%
2013$161.241.81%
2014$163.151.19%
2015$162.34-0.50%
2016$164.611.40%
2017$168.812.55%
2018$173.782.94%
2019$177.422.10%
2020$178.520.62%
2021$187.515.03%
2022$204.068.83%
2023$214.815.27%
2024$223.303.95%
2025$226.581.47%
2026$225.92-0.29%*

* 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 * $46 = $225.92

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $46 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $225.92 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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