Dallas, Texas prices: $8,600 in 1978 $42,236.88 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1978-2026 ($8,600)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 391.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $33,636.88 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, $8,600 in Dallas in the year 1978 would cost $42,236.88 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 $8,600.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $8,600 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$8,600.007.82%
1979$9,668.1612.42%
1980$11,306.4816.95%
1981$12,634.1211.74%
1982$13,397.436.04%
1983$13,887.303.66%
1984$14,540.064.70%
1985$15,084.623.75%
1986$15,348.751.75%
1987$15,731.572.49%
1988$16,188.852.91%
1989$16,672.902.99%
1990$17,426.904.52%
1991$18,242.574.68%
1992$18,684.722.42%
1993$19,152.482.50%
1994$19,693.552.83%
1995$20,206.682.61%
1996$20,759.382.74%
1997$21,129.401.78%
1998$21,428.441.42%
1999$22,033.502.82%
2000$22,959.714.20%
2001$23,769.563.53%
2002$24,093.031.36%
2003$24,600.352.11%
2004$24,928.481.33%
2005$25,733.683.23%
2006$26,536.543.12%
2007$26,935.021.50%
2008$28,167.394.58%
2009$27,981.61-0.66%
2010$28,146.310.59%
2011$28,998.673.03%
2012$29,607.182.10%
2013$30,144.291.81%
2014$30,502.181.19%
2015$30,349.75-0.50%
2016$30,775.391.40%
2017$31,559.682.55%
2018$32,488.432.94%
2019$33,170.542.10%
2020$33,376.210.62%
2021$35,056.235.03%
2022$38,150.078.83%
2023$40,159.945.27%
2024$41,747.363.95%
2025$42,360.291.47%
2026$42,236.88-0.29%*

* 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 * $8,600 = $42,236.88

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $8,600 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $42,236.88 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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