Dallas, Texas prices: $42,000 in 1985 $117,952.32 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1985-2025 ($42,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 180.84% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $75,952.32 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $42,000 in Dallas in the year 1985 would cost $117,952.32 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.77% 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 1985-2025 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 $42,000.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42,000 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$42,000.003.75%
1986$42,735.421.75%
1987$43,801.302.49%
1988$45,074.512.91%
1989$46,422.252.99%
1990$48,521.604.52%
1991$50,792.664.68%
1992$52,023.762.42%
1993$53,326.132.50%
1994$54,832.612.83%
1995$56,261.342.61%
1996$57,800.222.74%
1997$58,830.451.78%
1998$59,663.071.42%
1999$61,347.732.82%
2000$63,926.574.20%
2001$66,181.433.53%
2002$67,082.071.36%
2003$68,494.602.11%
2004$69,408.211.33%
2005$71,650.113.23%
2006$73,885.533.12%
2007$74,995.011.50%
2008$78,426.294.58%
2009$77,909.03-0.66%
2010$78,367.580.59%
2011$80,740.823.03%
2012$82,435.082.10%
2013$83,930.541.81%
2014$84,927.021.19%
2015$84,502.61-0.50%
2016$85,687.711.40%
2017$87,871.432.55%
2018$90,457.322.94%
2019$92,356.522.10%
2020$92,929.180.62%
2021$97,606.855.03%
2022$106,220.998.83%
2023$111,817.065.27%
2024$116,236.913.95%
2025$117,952.321.48%*

* 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:

Year196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.400

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2025 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 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 108.033 * $42,000 = $117,952.32

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42,000 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $117,952.32 in 2025 (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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