Dallas, Texas prices:$42 in 1979$183.48 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1979-2026 ($42)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 336.87% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $141.48 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, $42 in Dallas in the year 1979 would cost $183.48 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
New trucks · New cars · Atlanta, Georgia · Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas · More

Buying power of $42.00 since 1979

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1979$42.0012.42%
1980$49.1216.95%
1981$54.8811.74%
1982$58.206.04%
1983$60.333.66%
1984$63.164.70%
1985$65.533.75%
1986$66.681.75%
1987$68.342.49%
1988$70.332.91%
1989$72.432.99%
1990$75.714.52%
1991$79.254.68%
1992$81.172.42%
1993$83.202.50%
1994$85.552.83%
1995$87.782.61%
1996$90.182.74%
1997$91.791.78%
1998$93.091.42%
1999$95.722.82%
2000$99.744.20%
2001$103.263.53%
2002$104.661.36%
2003$106.872.11%
2004$108.291.33%
2005$111.793.23%
2006$115.283.12%
2007$117.011.50%
2008$122.364.58%
2009$121.56-0.66%
2010$122.270.59%
2011$125.973.03%
2012$128.622.10%
2013$130.951.81%
2014$132.511.19%
2015$131.84-0.50%
2016$133.691.40%
2017$137.102.55%
2018$141.132.94%
2019$144.102.10%
2020$144.990.62%
2021$152.295.03%
2022$165.738.83%
2023$174.465.27%
2024$181.363.95%
2025$184.021.47%
2026$183.48-0.29%*

* 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* $42 = $183.48

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42 in 1979 has the same "purchasing power" as $183.48 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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