Dallas, Texas prices: $16 in 1986 $44.03 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1986-2026 ($16)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 175.18% higher in 2026 versus 1986 (a $28.03 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $16 in Dallas in the year 1986 would cost $44.03 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.75% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 1.75%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1986-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation in Dallas was lower.

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 $16.00 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $16 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1986$16.001.75%
1987$16.402.49%
1988$16.882.91%
1989$17.382.99%
1990$18.174.52%
1991$19.024.68%
1992$19.482.42%
1993$19.972.50%
1994$20.532.83%
1995$21.062.61%
1996$21.642.74%
1997$22.031.78%
1998$22.341.42%
1999$22.972.82%
2000$23.934.20%
2001$24.783.53%
2002$25.121.36%
2003$25.642.11%
2004$25.991.33%
2005$26.833.23%
2006$27.663.12%
2007$28.081.50%
2008$29.364.58%
2009$29.17-0.66%
2010$29.340.59%
2011$30.233.03%
2012$30.862.10%
2013$31.421.81%
2014$31.801.19%
2015$31.64-0.50%
2016$32.081.40%
2017$32.902.55%
2018$33.872.94%
2019$34.582.10%
2020$34.790.62%
2021$36.545.03%
2022$39.778.83%
2023$41.865.27%
2024$43.523.95%
2025$44.161.47%
2026$44.03-0.29%*

* 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 1986 * 1986 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 109.925 in the year 1986 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 109.925 * $16 = $44.03

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $16 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $44.03 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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