Dallas, Texas prices:$4.20 in 1972→$32.70 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

Enter a starting cost to estimate an equivalent purchase using the category CPI. This is a hypothetical calculation, not an observed retail price.

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Prices in Dallas, 1972-2026 ($4.20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 678.62% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $28.50 difference in value).

The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.

Between 1972 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $4.20 in Dallas in the year 1972 would cost $32.70 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 2.92%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), 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
Wine at home · College tuition and fees · Airline fares · Juices and nonalcoholic drinks · More

Buying power of $4.20 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $4.20 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$4.202.92%
1973$4.425.18%
1974$4.869.92%
1975$5.309.24%
1976$5.636.10%
1977$6.047.36%
1978$6.517.82%
1979$7.3212.42%
1980$8.5616.95%
1981$9.5711.74%
1982$10.156.04%
1983$10.523.66%
1984$11.014.70%
1985$11.433.75%
1986$11.631.75%
1987$11.922.49%
1988$12.262.91%
1989$12.632.99%
1990$13.204.52%
1991$13.824.68%
1992$14.152.42%
1993$14.512.50%
1994$14.922.83%
1995$15.312.61%
1996$15.732.74%
1997$16.011.78%
1998$16.231.42%
1999$16.692.82%
2000$17.394.20%
2001$18.013.53%
2002$18.251.36%
2003$18.642.11%
2004$18.881.33%
2005$19.493.23%
2006$20.103.12%
2007$20.401.50%
2008$21.344.58%
2009$21.20-0.66%
2010$21.320.59%
2011$21.973.03%
2012$22.432.10%
2013$22.831.81%
2014$23.111.19%
2015$22.99-0.50%
2016$23.311.40%
2017$23.912.55%
2018$24.612.94%
2019$25.132.10%
2020$25.280.62%
2021$26.565.03%
2022$28.908.83%
2023$30.425.27%
2024$31.623.95%
2025$32.081.44%
2026$32.701.94%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.303309.177

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1972* 1972 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 39.708 in the year 1972 and 309.177 in 2026:

309.177 / 39.708* $4.20 = $32.70

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $4.20 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $32.70 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.