Dallas, Texas prices:$15 in 1981$50.15 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($15)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $35.15 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $15 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $50.15 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.86% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.74%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 cars · Housing · Bread · Bananas · More

Buying power of $15.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $15 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$15.0011.74%
1982$15.916.04%
1983$16.493.66%
1984$17.264.70%
1985$17.913.75%
1986$18.221.75%
1987$18.682.49%
1988$19.222.91%
1989$19.802.99%
1990$20.694.52%
1991$21.664.68%
1992$22.182.42%
1993$22.742.50%
1994$23.382.83%
1995$23.992.61%
1996$24.652.74%
1997$25.091.78%
1998$25.441.42%
1999$26.162.82%
2000$27.264.20%
2001$28.223.53%
2002$28.601.36%
2003$29.212.11%
2004$29.601.33%
2005$30.553.23%
2006$31.513.12%
2007$31.981.50%
2008$33.444.58%
2009$33.22-0.66%
2010$33.420.59%
2011$34.433.03%
2012$35.152.10%
2013$35.791.81%
2014$36.211.19%
2015$36.03-0.50%
2016$36.541.40%
2017$37.472.55%
2018$38.572.94%
2019$39.382.10%
2020$39.630.62%
2021$41.625.03%
2022$45.298.83%
2023$47.685.27%
2024$49.573.95%
2025$50.291.47%
2026$50.15-0.29%*

* 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 1981* 1981 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 90.483 in the year 1981 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 90.483* $15 = $50.15

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $15 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $50.15 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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