Dallas, Texas prices: $12.50 in 1979 $54.61 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1979-2026 ($12.50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 336.87% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $42.11 difference in value).

Between 1979 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.19% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $12.50 in Dallas in the year 1979 would cost $54.61 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 12.42%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), 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 $12.50 since 1979

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $12.50 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1979$12.5012.42%
1980$14.6216.95%
1981$16.3311.74%
1982$17.326.04%
1983$17.953.66%
1984$18.804.70%
1985$19.503.75%
1986$19.841.75%
1987$20.342.49%
1988$20.932.91%
1989$21.562.99%
1990$22.534.52%
1991$23.594.68%
1992$24.162.42%
1993$24.762.50%
1994$25.462.83%
1995$26.132.61%
1996$26.842.74%
1997$27.321.78%
1998$27.701.42%
1999$28.492.82%
2000$29.684.20%
2001$30.733.53%
2002$31.151.36%
2003$31.812.11%
2004$32.231.33%
2005$33.273.23%
2006$34.313.12%
2007$34.821.50%
2008$36.424.58%
2009$36.18-0.66%
2010$36.390.59%
2011$37.493.03%
2012$38.282.10%
2013$38.971.81%
2014$39.441.19%
2015$39.24-0.50%
2016$39.791.40%
2017$40.802.55%
2018$42.002.94%
2019$42.892.10%
2020$43.150.62%
2021$45.325.03%
2022$49.328.83%
2023$51.925.27%
2024$53.983.95%
2025$54.771.47%
2026$54.61-0.29%*

* 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 1979 * 1979 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 69.242 in the year 1979 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 69.242 * $12.50 = $54.61

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $12.50 in 1979 has the same "purchasing power" as $54.61 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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