Dallas, Texas prices: $46,000 in 1981 $153,781.67 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($46,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $107,781.67 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, $46,000 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $153,781.67 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 $46,000.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $46,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$46,000.0011.74%
1982$48,779.156.04%
1983$50,562.723.66%
1984$52,939.404.70%
1985$54,922.093.75%
1986$55,883.771.75%
1987$57,277.582.49%
1988$58,942.532.91%
1989$60,704.922.99%
1990$63,450.174.52%
1991$66,419.974.68%
1992$68,029.842.42%
1993$69,732.922.50%
1994$71,702.892.83%
1995$73,571.192.61%
1996$75,583.532.74%
1997$76,930.741.78%
1998$78,019.521.42%
1999$80,222.512.82%
2000$83,594.774.20%
2001$86,543.383.53%
2002$87,721.131.36%
2003$89,568.242.11%
2004$90,762.941.33%
2005$93,694.603.23%
2006$96,617.793.12%
2007$98,068.631.50%
2008$102,555.604.58%
2009$101,879.20-0.66%
2010$102,478.830.59%
2011$105,582.243.03%
2012$107,797.772.10%
2013$109,753.341.81%
2014$111,056.401.19%
2015$110,501.42-0.50%
2016$112,051.141.40%
2017$114,906.712.55%
2018$118,288.212.94%
2019$120,771.732.10%
2020$121,520.580.62%
2021$127,637.425.03%
2022$138,901.878.83%
2023$146,219.675.27%
2024$151,999.373.95%
2025$154,230.991.47%
2026$153,781.67-0.29%*

* 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 * $46,000 = $153,781.67

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $46,000 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $153,781.67 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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