Dallas, Texas prices:$21,500 in 1985$60,351.58 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1985-2026 ($21,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 180.71% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $38,851.58 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.55% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21,500 in Dallas in the year 1985 would cost $60,351.58 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% 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
Women's apparel · San Francisco, California · Chicago, Illinois · New trucks · More

Buying power of $21,500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21,500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$21,500.003.75%
1986$21,876.471.75%
1987$22,422.092.49%
1988$23,073.862.91%
1989$23,763.772.99%
1990$24,838.444.52%
1991$26,001.004.68%
1992$26,631.212.42%
1993$27,297.902.50%
1994$28,069.082.83%
1995$28,800.452.61%
1996$29,588.212.74%
1997$30,115.591.78%
1998$30,541.811.42%
1999$31,404.202.82%
2000$32,724.314.20%
2001$33,878.593.53%
2002$34,339.631.36%
2003$35,062.712.11%
2004$35,530.391.33%
2005$36,678.033.23%
2006$37,822.353.12%
2007$38,390.301.50%
2008$40,146.794.58%
2009$39,882.00-0.66%
2010$40,116.740.59%
2011$41,331.613.03%
2012$42,198.912.10%
2013$42,964.441.81%
2014$43,474.551.19%
2015$43,257.29-0.50%
2016$43,863.951.40%
2017$44,981.802.55%
2018$46,305.532.94%
2019$47,277.742.10%
2020$47,570.890.62%
2021$49,965.415.03%
2022$54,375.038.83%
2023$57,239.695.27%
2024$59,502.233.95%
2025$60,361.171.44%
2026$60,351.58-0.02%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.303303.255

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 303.255 in 2026:

303.255 / 108.033* $21,500 = $60,351.58

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21,500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $60,351.58 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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