Dallas, Texas prices: $18 in 1981 $60.18 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($18)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $42.18 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, $18 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $60.18 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
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Buying power of $18.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $18 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$18.0011.74%
1982$19.096.04%
1983$19.793.66%
1984$20.724.70%
1985$21.493.75%
1986$21.871.75%
1987$22.412.49%
1988$23.062.91%
1989$23.752.99%
1990$24.834.52%
1991$25.994.68%
1992$26.622.42%
1993$27.292.50%
1994$28.062.83%
1995$28.792.61%
1996$29.582.74%
1997$30.101.78%
1998$30.531.42%
1999$31.392.82%
2000$32.714.20%
2001$33.863.53%
2002$34.331.36%
2003$35.052.11%
2004$35.521.33%
2005$36.663.23%
2006$37.813.12%
2007$38.371.50%
2008$40.134.58%
2009$39.87-0.66%
2010$40.100.59%
2011$41.313.03%
2012$42.182.10%
2013$42.951.81%
2014$43.461.19%
2015$43.24-0.50%
2016$43.851.40%
2017$44.962.55%
2018$46.292.94%
2019$47.262.10%
2020$47.550.62%
2021$49.955.03%
2022$54.358.83%
2023$57.225.27%
2024$59.483.95%
2025$60.351.47%
2026$60.18-0.29%*

* 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 * $18 = $60.18

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $18 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $60.18 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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