Dallas, Texas prices:$18,500 in 1970$149,872.24 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1970-2026 ($18,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 710.12% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $131,372.24 difference in value).

Between 1970 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.81% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $18,500 in Dallas in the year 1970 would cost $149,872.24 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 6.22%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), 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 $18,500.00 since 1970

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $18,500 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1970$18,500.006.22%
1971$19,068.343.07%
1972$19,624.332.92%
1973$20,641.595.18%
1974$22,688.459.92%
1975$24,784.739.24%
1976$26,296.196.10%
1977$28,231.867.36%
1978$30,439.347.82%
1979$34,220.0612.42%
1980$40,018.8116.95%
1981$44,717.9411.74%
1982$47,419.636.04%
1983$49,153.503.66%
1984$51,463.944.70%
1985$53,391.363.75%
1986$54,326.251.75%
1987$55,681.212.49%
1988$57,299.762.91%
1989$59,013.022.99%
1990$61,681.774.52%
1991$64,568.794.68%
1992$66,133.792.42%
1993$67,789.402.50%
1994$69,704.472.83%
1995$71,520.702.61%
1996$73,476.962.74%
1997$74,786.621.78%
1998$75,845.061.42%
1999$77,986.642.82%
2000$81,264.924.20%
2001$84,131.343.53%
2002$85,276.271.36%
2003$87,071.912.11%
2004$88,233.301.33%
2005$91,083.263.23%
2006$93,924.983.12%
2007$95,335.381.50%
2008$99,697.294.58%
2009$99,039.74-0.66%
2010$99,622.660.59%
2011$102,639.583.03%
2012$104,793.362.10%
2013$106,694.431.81%
2014$107,961.171.19%
2015$107,421.66-0.50%
2016$108,928.181.40%
2017$111,704.172.55%
2018$114,991.422.94%
2019$117,405.732.10%
2020$118,133.700.62%
2021$124,080.065.03%
2022$135,030.568.83%
2023$142,144.415.27%
2024$147,763.033.95%
2025$149,896.041.44%
2026$149,872.24-0.02%*

* 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 1970* 1970 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 37.433 in the year 1970 and 303.255 in 2026:

303.255 / 37.433* $18,500 = $149,872.24

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $18,500 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" as $149,872.24 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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