Dallas, Texas prices: $12,000 in 1981 $40,237.19 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2025 ($12,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 235.31% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $28,237.19 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.79% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $12,000 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $40,237.19 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.91% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.74%, which is significantly above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 $12,000.00 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $12,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$12,000.0011.74%
1982$12,725.006.04%
1983$13,190.273.66%
1984$13,810.284.70%
1985$14,327.503.75%
1986$14,578.381.75%
1987$14,941.982.49%
1988$15,376.312.91%
1989$15,836.072.99%
1990$16,552.224.52%
1991$17,326.954.68%
1992$17,746.912.42%
1993$18,191.202.50%
1994$18,705.102.83%
1995$19,192.482.61%
1996$19,717.442.74%
1997$20,068.891.78%
1998$20,352.921.42%
1999$20,927.612.82%
2000$21,807.334.20%
2001$22,576.533.53%
2002$22,883.771.36%
2003$23,365.632.11%
2004$23,677.291.33%
2005$24,442.073.23%
2006$25,204.643.12%
2007$25,583.121.50%
2008$26,753.634.58%
2009$26,577.18-0.66%
2010$26,733.610.59%
2011$27,543.193.03%
2012$28,121.162.10%
2013$28,631.311.81%
2014$28,971.241.19%
2015$28,826.46-0.50%
2016$29,230.731.40%
2017$29,975.662.55%
2018$30,857.792.94%
2019$31,505.672.10%
2020$31,701.020.62%
2021$33,296.725.03%
2022$36,235.278.83%
2023$38,144.265.27%
2024$39,652.013.95%
2025$40,237.191.48%*

* 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 1981 * 1981 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 90.483 in the year 1981 and 303.400 in 2025:

303.400 / 90.483 * $12,000 = $40,237.19

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $12,000 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $40,237.19 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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