Dallas, Texas prices: $38 in 1981 $127.04 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($38)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $89.04 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, $38 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $127.04 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
College tuition and fees · Hospital services · Juices and nonalcoholic drinks · Wireless telephone services · More

Buying power of $38.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$38.0011.74%
1982$40.306.04%
1983$41.773.66%
1984$43.734.70%
1985$45.373.75%
1986$46.161.75%
1987$47.322.49%
1988$48.692.91%
1989$50.152.99%
1990$52.424.52%
1991$54.874.68%
1992$56.202.42%
1993$57.612.50%
1994$59.232.83%
1995$60.782.61%
1996$62.442.74%
1997$63.551.78%
1998$64.451.42%
1999$66.272.82%
2000$69.064.20%
2001$71.493.53%
2002$72.471.36%
2003$73.992.11%
2004$74.981.33%
2005$77.403.23%
2006$79.813.12%
2007$81.011.50%
2008$84.724.58%
2009$84.16-0.66%
2010$84.660.59%
2011$87.223.03%
2012$89.052.10%
2013$90.671.81%
2014$91.741.19%
2015$91.28-0.50%
2016$92.561.40%
2017$94.922.55%
2018$97.722.94%
2019$99.772.10%
2020$100.390.62%
2021$105.445.03%
2022$114.758.83%
2023$120.795.27%
2024$125.563.95%
2025$127.411.47%
2026$127.04-0.29%*

* 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 * $38 = $127.04

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $127.04 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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