Dallas, Texas prices: $3 in 1981 $10.06 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2025 ($3)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 235.31% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $7.06 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.79% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $3 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $10.06 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.91% 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 1981-2025 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 $3.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$3.0011.74%
1982$3.186.04%
1983$3.303.66%
1984$3.454.70%
1985$3.583.75%
1986$3.641.75%
1987$3.742.49%
1988$3.842.91%
1989$3.962.99%
1990$4.144.52%
1991$4.334.68%
1992$4.442.42%
1993$4.552.50%
1994$4.682.83%
1995$4.802.61%
1996$4.932.74%
1997$5.021.78%
1998$5.091.42%
1999$5.232.82%
2000$5.454.20%
2001$5.643.53%
2002$5.721.36%
2003$5.842.11%
2004$5.921.33%
2005$6.113.23%
2006$6.303.12%
2007$6.401.50%
2008$6.694.58%
2009$6.64-0.66%
2010$6.680.59%
2011$6.893.03%
2012$7.032.10%
2013$7.161.81%
2014$7.241.19%
2015$7.21-0.50%
2016$7.311.40%
2017$7.492.55%
2018$7.712.94%
2019$7.882.10%
2020$7.930.62%
2021$8.325.03%
2022$9.068.83%
2023$9.545.27%
2024$9.913.95%
2025$10.061.48%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.400

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1981 * 1981 USD value = 2025 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 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 90.483 * $3 = $10.06

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $10.06 in 2025 (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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