Dallas, Texas prices: $51 in 1979 $222.80 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1979-2026 ($51)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 336.87% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $171.80 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, $51 in Dallas in the year 1979 would cost $222.80 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 $51.00 since 1979

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $51 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1979$51.0012.42%
1980$59.6416.95%
1981$66.6511.74%
1982$70.676.04%
1983$73.263.66%
1984$76.704.70%
1985$79.573.75%
1986$80.971.75%
1987$82.982.49%
1988$85.402.91%
1989$87.952.99%
1990$91.934.52%
1991$96.234.68%
1992$98.562.42%
1993$101.032.50%
1994$103.882.83%
1995$106.592.61%
1996$109.512.74%
1997$111.461.78%
1998$113.041.42%
1999$116.232.82%
2000$121.114.20%
2001$125.393.53%
2002$127.091.36%
2003$129.772.11%
2004$131.501.33%
2005$135.753.23%
2006$139.983.12%
2007$142.081.50%
2008$148.584.58%
2009$147.60-0.66%
2010$148.470.59%
2011$152.973.03%
2012$156.182.10%
2013$159.011.81%
2014$160.901.19%
2015$160.10-0.50%
2016$162.341.40%
2017$166.482.55%
2018$171.382.94%
2019$174.982.10%
2020$176.060.62%
2021$184.925.03%
2022$201.248.83%
2023$211.855.27%
2024$220.223.95%
2025$223.451.47%
2026$222.80-0.29%*

* 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 * $51 = $222.80

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $51 in 1979 has the same "purchasing power" as $222.80 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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