Dallas, Texas prices: $5.17 in 1981 $17.28 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($5.17)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $12.11 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, $5.17 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $17.28 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 $5.17 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $5.17 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$5.1711.74%
1982$5.486.04%
1983$5.683.66%
1984$5.954.70%
1985$6.173.75%
1986$6.281.75%
1987$6.442.49%
1988$6.622.91%
1989$6.822.99%
1990$7.134.52%
1991$7.474.68%
1992$7.652.42%
1993$7.842.50%
1994$8.062.83%
1995$8.272.61%
1996$8.492.74%
1997$8.651.78%
1998$8.771.42%
1999$9.022.82%
2000$9.404.20%
2001$9.733.53%
2002$9.861.36%
2003$10.072.11%
2004$10.201.33%
2005$10.533.23%
2006$10.863.12%
2007$11.021.50%
2008$11.534.58%
2009$11.45-0.66%
2010$11.520.59%
2011$11.873.03%
2012$12.122.10%
2013$12.341.81%
2014$12.481.19%
2015$12.42-0.50%
2016$12.591.40%
2017$12.912.55%
2018$13.292.94%
2019$13.572.10%
2020$13.660.62%
2021$14.355.03%
2022$15.618.83%
2023$16.435.27%
2024$17.083.95%
2025$17.331.47%
2026$17.28-0.29%*

* 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 * $5.17 = $17.28

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5.17 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $17.28 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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