Dallas, Texas prices: $520 in 1981 $1,738.40 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($520)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $1,218.40 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, $520 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $1,738.40 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
Hospital services · Film and photographic supplies · Juices and nonalcoholic drinks · Wine at home · More

Buying power of $520.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $520 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$520.0011.74%
1982$551.426.04%
1983$571.583.66%
1984$598.454.70%
1985$620.863.75%
1986$631.731.75%
1987$647.492.49%
1988$666.312.91%
1989$686.232.99%
1990$717.264.52%
1991$750.834.68%
1992$769.032.42%
1993$788.292.50%
1994$810.552.83%
1995$831.672.61%
1996$854.422.74%
1997$869.651.78%
1998$881.961.42%
1999$906.862.82%
2000$944.984.20%
2001$978.323.53%
2002$991.631.36%
2003$1,012.512.11%
2004$1,026.021.33%
2005$1,059.163.23%
2006$1,092.203.12%
2007$1,108.601.50%
2008$1,159.324.58%
2009$1,151.68-0.66%
2010$1,158.460.59%
2011$1,193.543.03%
2012$1,218.582.10%
2013$1,240.691.81%
2014$1,255.421.19%
2015$1,249.15-0.50%
2016$1,266.671.40%
2017$1,298.952.55%
2018$1,337.172.94%
2019$1,365.252.10%
2020$1,373.710.62%
2021$1,442.865.03%
2022$1,570.208.83%
2023$1,652.925.27%
2024$1,718.253.95%
2025$1,743.481.47%
2026$1,738.40-0.29%*

* 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 * $520 = $1,738.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $520 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $1,738.40 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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