Dallas, Texas prices: $4.94 in 1979 $21.58 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1979-2026 ($4.94)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 336.87% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $16.64 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, $4.94 in Dallas in the year 1979 would cost $21.58 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 $4.94 since 1979

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $4.94 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1979$4.9412.42%
1980$5.7816.95%
1981$6.4611.74%
1982$6.856.04%
1983$7.103.66%
1984$7.434.70%
1985$7.713.75%
1986$7.841.75%
1987$8.042.49%
1988$8.272.91%
1989$8.522.99%
1990$8.904.52%
1991$9.324.68%
1992$9.552.42%
1993$9.792.50%
1994$10.062.83%
1995$10.322.61%
1996$10.612.74%
1997$10.801.78%
1998$10.951.42%
1999$11.262.82%
2000$11.734.20%
2001$12.153.53%
2002$12.311.36%
2003$12.572.11%
2004$12.741.33%
2005$13.153.23%
2006$13.563.12%
2007$13.761.50%
2008$14.394.58%
2009$14.30-0.66%
2010$14.380.59%
2011$14.823.03%
2012$15.132.10%
2013$15.401.81%
2014$15.591.19%
2015$15.51-0.50%
2016$15.721.40%
2017$16.132.55%
2018$16.602.94%
2019$16.952.10%
2020$17.050.62%
2021$17.915.03%
2022$19.498.83%
2023$20.525.27%
2024$21.333.95%
2025$21.641.47%
2026$21.58-0.29%*

* 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 * $4.94 = $21.58

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $4.94 in 1979 has the same "purchasing power" as $21.58 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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