Dallas, Texas prices:$3,700 in 1981$12,369.40 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($3,700)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $8,669.40 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, $3,700 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $12,369.40 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 $3,700.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $3,700 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$3,700.0011.74%
1982$3,923.546.04%
1983$4,067.003.66%
1984$4,258.174.70%
1985$4,417.653.75%
1986$4,495.001.75%
1987$4,607.112.49%
1988$4,741.032.91%
1989$4,882.792.99%
1990$5,103.604.52%
1991$5,342.484.68%
1992$5,471.972.42%
1993$5,608.952.50%
1994$5,767.412.83%
1995$5,917.682.61%
1996$6,079.552.74%
1997$6,187.911.78%
1998$6,275.481.42%
1999$6,452.682.82%
2000$6,723.934.20%
2001$6,961.103.53%
2002$7,055.831.36%
2003$7,204.402.11%
2004$7,300.501.33%
2005$7,536.313.23%
2006$7,771.433.12%
2007$7,888.131.50%
2008$8,249.044.58%
2009$8,194.63-0.66%
2010$8,242.860.59%
2011$8,492.483.03%
2012$8,670.692.10%
2013$8,827.991.81%
2014$8,932.801.19%
2015$8,888.16-0.50%
2016$9,012.811.40%
2017$9,242.502.55%
2018$9,514.492.94%
2019$9,714.252.10%
2020$9,774.480.62%
2021$10,266.495.03%
2022$11,172.548.83%
2023$11,761.155.27%
2024$12,226.043.95%
2025$12,405.541.47%
2026$12,369.40-0.29%*

* 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* $3,700 = $12,369.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3,700 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $12,369.40 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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