Dallas, Texas prices: $56 in 1981 $187.21 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($56)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 234.31% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $131.21 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, $56 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $187.21 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 $56.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $56 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$56.0011.74%
1982$59.386.04%
1983$61.553.66%
1984$64.454.70%
1985$66.863.75%
1986$68.031.75%
1987$69.732.49%
1988$71.762.91%
1989$73.902.99%
1990$77.244.52%
1991$80.864.68%
1992$82.822.42%
1993$84.892.50%
1994$87.292.83%
1995$89.562.61%
1996$92.012.74%
1997$93.651.78%
1998$94.981.42%
1999$97.662.82%
2000$101.774.20%
2001$105.363.53%
2002$106.791.36%
2003$109.042.11%
2004$110.491.33%
2005$114.063.23%
2006$117.623.12%
2007$119.391.50%
2008$124.854.58%
2009$124.03-0.66%
2010$124.760.59%
2011$128.533.03%
2012$131.232.10%
2013$133.611.81%
2014$135.201.19%
2015$134.52-0.50%
2016$136.411.40%
2017$139.892.55%
2018$144.002.94%
2019$147.032.10%
2020$147.940.62%
2021$155.385.03%
2022$169.108.83%
2023$178.015.27%
2024$185.043.95%
2025$187.761.47%
2026$187.21-0.29%*

* 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 * $56 = $187.21

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $56 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $187.21 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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