Dallas, Texas prices: $38.50 in 1986 $106.43 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1986-2025 ($38.50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 176.45% higher in 2025 versus 1986 (a $67.93 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.64% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38.50 in Dallas in the year 1986 would cost $106.43 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.78% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1986: Pricing changed by 1.75%, which is below the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1986-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), inflation in Dallas was lower.

Price Inflation in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas since 1963

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
1965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025-1001020
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 $38.50 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $38.50 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1986$38.501.75%
1987$39.462.49%
1988$40.612.91%
1989$41.822.99%
1990$43.714.52%
1991$45.764.68%
1992$46.872.42%
1993$48.042.50%
1994$49.402.83%
1995$50.692.61%
1996$52.072.74%
1997$53.001.78%
1998$53.751.42%
1999$55.272.82%
2000$57.594.20%
2001$59.623.53%
2002$60.431.36%
2003$61.712.11%
2004$62.531.33%
2005$64.553.23%
2006$66.563.12%
2007$67.561.50%
2008$70.654.58%
2009$70.19-0.66%
2010$70.600.59%
2011$72.743.03%
2012$74.272.10%
2013$75.611.81%
2014$76.511.19%
2015$76.13-0.50%
2016$77.201.40%
2017$79.162.55%
2018$81.492.94%
2019$83.202.10%
2020$83.720.62%
2021$87.935.03%
2022$95.698.83%
2023$100.745.27%
2024$104.723.95%
2025$106.431.64%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987303.886

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1986 * 1986 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 109.925 in the year 1986 and 303.886 in 2025:

303.886 / 109.925 * $38.50 = $106.43

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38.50 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $106.43 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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