Dallas, Texas prices: $16,500 in 1985 $46,199.95 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1985-2026 ($16,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 180% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $29,699.95 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.54% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $16,500 in Dallas in the year 1985 would cost $46,199.95 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.73% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 3.75%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1985-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), 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 $16,500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $16,500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$16,500.003.75%
1986$16,788.921.75%
1987$17,207.652.49%
1988$17,707.842.91%
1989$18,237.312.99%
1990$19,062.064.52%
1991$19,954.264.68%
1992$20,437.902.42%
1993$20,949.552.50%
1994$21,541.382.83%
1995$22,102.672.61%
1996$22,707.232.74%
1997$23,111.961.78%
1998$23,439.061.42%
1999$24,100.892.82%
2000$25,114.014.20%
2001$25,999.853.53%
2002$26,353.671.36%
2003$26,908.592.11%
2004$27,267.511.33%
2005$28,148.263.23%
2006$29,026.463.12%
2007$29,462.331.50%
2008$30,810.334.58%
2009$30,607.12-0.66%
2010$30,787.260.59%
2011$31,719.613.03%
2012$32,385.212.10%
2013$32,972.711.81%
2014$33,364.191.19%
2015$33,197.46-0.50%
2016$33,663.031.40%
2017$34,520.922.55%
2018$35,536.802.94%
2019$36,282.922.10%
2020$36,507.890.62%
2021$38,345.555.03%
2022$41,729.688.83%
2023$43,928.135.27%
2024$45,664.503.95%
2025$46,334.941.47%
2026$46,199.95-0.29%*

* 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 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 108.033 in the year 1985 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 108.033 * $16,500 = $46,199.95

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $16,500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $46,199.95 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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