Dallas, Texas prices: $21,000 in 1988 $54,789.22 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1988-2026 ($21,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 160.90% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $33,789.22 difference in value).

Between 1988 and 2026: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $21,000 in Dallas in the year 1988 would cost $54,789.22 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 2.91%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), 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 $21,000.00 since 1988

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $21,000 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1988$21,000.002.91%
1989$21,627.902.99%
1990$22,605.984.52%
1991$23,664.064.68%
1992$24,237.622.42%
1993$24,844.392.50%
1994$25,546.252.83%
1995$26,211.892.61%
1996$26,928.842.74%
1997$27,408.831.78%
1998$27,796.741.42%
1999$28,581.612.82%
2000$29,783.084.20%
2001$30,833.613.53%
2002$31,253.221.36%
2003$31,911.312.11%
2004$32,336.951.33%
2005$33,381.443.23%
2006$34,422.913.12%
2007$34,939.821.50%
2008$36,538.434.58%
2009$36,297.44-0.66%
2010$36,511.080.59%
2011$37,616.763.03%
2012$38,406.112.10%
2013$39,102.841.81%
2014$39,567.091.19%
2015$39,369.36-0.50%
2016$39,921.491.40%
2017$40,938.882.55%
2018$42,143.632.94%
2019$43,028.462.10%
2020$43,295.260.62%
2021$45,474.565.03%
2022$49,487.858.83%
2023$52,095.035.27%
2024$54,154.223.95%
2025$54,949.301.47%
2026$54,789.22-0.29%*

* 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 1988 * 1988 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 115.942 in the year 1988 and 302.493 in 2026:

302.493 / 115.942 * $21,000 = $54,789.22

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $21,000 in 1988 has the same "purchasing power" as $54,789.22 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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