Dallas, Texas prices: $42,500 in 1985 $119,718.61 in 2025

Inflation in Texas

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Prices in Dallas, 1985-2025 ($42,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas are 181.69% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $77,218.61 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2025: Dallas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $42,500 in Dallas in the year 1985 would cost $119,718.61 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% during this same period, inflation in Dallas was lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 3.75%, which is above the average yearly change in Dallas during the 1985-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), 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 $42,500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Dallas, over time, for $42,500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$42,500.003.75%
1986$43,244.181.75%
1987$44,322.742.49%
1988$45,611.122.91%
1989$46,974.892.99%
1990$49,099.244.52%
1991$51,397.334.68%
1992$52,643.092.42%
1993$53,960.972.50%
1994$55,485.382.83%
1995$56,931.122.61%
1996$58,488.312.74%
1997$59,530.821.78%
1998$60,373.341.42%
1999$62,078.062.82%
2000$64,687.604.20%
2001$66,969.303.53%
2002$67,880.671.36%
2003$69,310.012.11%
2004$70,234.501.33%
2005$72,503.093.23%
2006$74,765.123.12%
2007$75,887.811.50%
2008$79,359.934.58%
2009$78,836.52-0.66%
2010$79,300.530.59%
2011$81,702.023.03%
2012$83,416.452.10%
2013$84,929.711.81%
2014$85,938.061.19%
2015$85,508.60-0.50%
2016$86,707.801.40%
2017$88,917.512.55%
2018$91,534.192.94%
2019$93,456.012.10%
2020$94,035.480.62%
2021$98,768.835.03%
2022$107,485.538.83%
2023$113,148.225.27%
2024$117,620.683.95%
2025$119,718.611.78%*

* 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
CPI29.50029.53329.85030.88331.83333.15035.24237.43338.58339.70841.76745.90850.15053.20857.12561.59269.24280.97590.48395.95099.458104.133108.033109.925112.667115.942119.408124.808130.650133.817137.167141.042144.717148.675151.325153.467157.800164.433170.233172.550176.183178.533184.300190.050192.904201.730200.399201.579207.683212.041215.888218.451217.359220.408226.025232.676237.561239.035251.066273.224287.618298.987304.320

Adjust Dallas prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas was 108.033 in the year 1985 and 304.320 in 2025:

304.320 / 108.033 * $42,500 = $119,718.61

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $42,500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $119,718.61 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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