Dallas, Texas prices:$8.50 in 1981$28.49 in 2026

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1981-2026 ($8.50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 235.15% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $19.99 difference in value).

Between 1981 and 2026:Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $8.50 in Dallas in the year 1981 would cost $28.49 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.88% 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 1981-2026 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 $8.50 since 1981

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $8.50 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1981$8.5011.74%
1982$9.016.04%
1983$9.343.66%
1984$9.784.70%
1985$10.153.75%
1986$10.331.75%
1987$10.582.49%
1988$10.892.91%
1989$11.222.99%
1990$11.724.52%
1991$12.274.68%
1992$12.572.42%
1993$12.892.50%
1994$13.252.83%
1995$13.592.61%
1996$13.972.74%
1997$14.221.78%
1998$14.421.42%
1999$14.822.82%
2000$15.454.20%
2001$15.993.53%
2002$16.211.36%
2003$16.552.11%
2004$16.771.33%
2005$17.313.23%
2006$17.853.12%
2007$18.121.50%
2008$18.954.58%
2009$18.83-0.66%
2010$18.940.59%
2011$19.513.03%
2012$19.922.10%
2013$20.281.81%
2014$20.521.19%
2015$20.42-0.50%
2016$20.711.40%
2017$21.232.55%
2018$21.862.94%
2019$22.322.10%
2020$22.450.62%
2021$23.595.03%
2022$25.678.83%
2023$27.025.27%
2024$28.093.95%
2025$28.491.44%
2026$28.49-0.02%*

* 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 1981* 1981 USD value = 2026 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 303.255 in 2026:

303.255 / 90.483* $8.50 = $28.49

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $8.50 in 1981 has the same "purchasing power" as $28.49 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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