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The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born

Published March 28, 2023•Updated February 8, 2024

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A group of uniformed female attendants cleaning a car for a customer at an Esso station, circa 1955. — FPG/Getty Images

More than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, gas prices have fallen to about $3.44 this week. Though last year’s record spike above $5 was attributed to the war, major price fluctuations don’t always occur during times of upheaval and crisis. Using data from the Department of Energy, Cheapism determined the average cost of a gallon of gas every year from 1940 through today, showing the price in 2023 dollars. (Prices are for regular leaded through 1990, then for regular unleaded.) Despite constant ups and downs and the 2022 pain at the pump, significant swings in gas prices are relatively rare.

1940

Price per gallon: 18 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.90

1941

Price per gallon: 19 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $4.05

Related: How to Get Better Gas Mileage

1942

Price per gallon: 20 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.83

1943

Price per gallon: 21 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.74

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1944

Price per gallon: 21 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.63

1945

Price per gallon: 21 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.55

1946

Price per gallon: 21 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.47

1947

Price per gallon: 23 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.22

1948

Price per gallon: 26 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.30

1949

Price per gallon: 27 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.38

1950

Price per gallon: 27 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.46

1951

Price per gallon: 27 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.20

1952

Price per gallon: 27 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.07

1953

Price per gallon: 29 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.28

1954

Price per gallon: 29 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.24

1955

Price per gallon: 29 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.27

1956

Price per gallon: 30 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.37

1957

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.38

1958

Price per gallon: 30 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.16

1959

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.22

1960

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.18

1961

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.13

1962

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.13

1963

Price per gallon: 30 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.97

1964

Price per gallon: 30 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.92

1965

Price per gallon: 31 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.99

1966

Price per gallon: 32 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.03

1967

Price per gallon: 33 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.02

1968

Price per gallon: 34 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3

1969

Price per gallon: 35 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.96

1970

Price per gallon: 36 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.87

1971

Price per gallon: 36 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

1972

Price per gallon: 36 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.64

1973

Price per gallon: 39 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.75

1974

Price per gallon: 53 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.42

1975

Price per gallon: 57 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.29

1976

Price per gallon: 59 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

1977

Price per gallon: 62 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

1978

Price per gallon: 63 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.03

1979

Price per gallon: 86 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $3.79

1980

Price per gallon: $1.19
Adjusted for inflation: $4.60

1981

Price per gallon: $1.31
Adjusted for inflation: $4.53

1982

Price per gallon: $1.22
Adjusted for inflation: $3.89

1983

Price per gallon: $1.16
Adjusted for inflation: $3.57

1984

Price per gallon: $1.13
Adjusted for inflation: $3.34

1985

Price per gallon: $1.12
Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

1986

Price per gallon: 86 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.36

1987

Price per gallon: 90 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.43

1988

Price per gallon: 90 cents
Adjusted for inflation: $2.34

1989

Price per gallon: $1
Adjusted for inflation: $2.48

1990

Price per gallon: $1.15
Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

1991

Pioneer gas station, Yonge Street and Millwood Road by Toronto History ((CC BY))

Price per gallon: $1.14
Adjusted for inflation: $2.55

1992

50th Anniversary by Sean Benham ((CC BY-ND))

Price per gallon: $1.13
Adjusted for inflation: $2.46

1993

Zephyr Gas Station, Galesburg, IL by David Wilson ((CC BY))

Price per gallon: $1.11
Adjusted for inflation: $2.34

1994

Price per gallon: $1.11
Adjusted for inflation: $2.28

1995

Price per gallon: $1.15
Adjusted for inflation: $2.30

1996

Price per gallon: $1.23
Adjusted for inflation: $2.40

1997

Price per gallon: $1.23
Adjusted for inflation: $2.33

1998

Price per gallon: $1.06
Adjusted for inflation: $1.97

1999

Treasure Island: Abandoned gas station by Todd Lappin ((CC BY-NC))

Price per gallon: $1.17
Adjusted for inflation: $2.14

2000

Chevron Station by Phil Gyford ((CC BY-NC-ND))

Price per gallon: $1.51
Adjusted for inflation: $2.69

2001

Random Gas Station in West Virginia by Drew Allen ((CC BY-NC-ND))

Price per gallon: $1.46
Adjusted for inflation: $2.51

2002

Sunoco Snack Shop by David ((CC BY-NC-ND))

Price per gallon: $1.36
Adjusted for inflation: $2.31

2003

hot spot gas station by Colin Mutchler ((CC BY))

Price per gallon: $1.59
Adjusted for inflation: $2.63

2004

Price per gallon: $1.88
Adjusted for inflation: $3.05

2005

Price per gallon: $2.30
Adjusted for inflation: $3.63

2006

Hemmings Motor News Gas Station by Joe Ross ((CC BY))

Price per gallon: $2.59
Adjusted for inflation: $3.93

2007

BP Gas Station, Sunrise FL by NNECAPA Photo Library ((CC BY))

Price per gallon: $2.80
Adjusted for inflation: $4.16

2008

Price per gallon: $3.27
Adjusted for inflation: $4.66

2009

Price per gallon: $2.35
Adjusted for inflation: $3.35

2010

Price per gallon: $2.79
Adjusted for inflation: $3.87

2011

Price per gallon: $3.53
Adjusted for inflation: $4.82

2012

Price per gallon: $3.64
Adjusted for inflation: $4.83

2013

Price per gallon: $3.53
Adjusted for inflation: $4.61

2014

Price per gallon: $3.37
Adjusted for inflation: $4.33

2015

Price per gallon: $2.45
Adjusted for inflation: $3.15

2016

Price per gallon: $2.14
Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

2017

Price per gallon: $2.42
Adjusted for inflation: $3

2018

Price per gallon: $2.72
Adjusted for inflation: $3.30

2019

Price per gallon: $2.60
Adjusted for inflation: $3.11

2020

Price per gallon: $2.18
Adjusted for inflation: $2.54

2021

Price per gallon: $3.01
Adjusted for inflation: $3.46

2022

Price per gallon: $3.95
Adjusted for inflation: $4.01

Meet the Writer

Andrew Lisa

Andrew Lisa has been writing professionally since 2001. He was one of the youngest nationally distributed columnists at the largest newspaper syndicate in the country, the Gannett News Service, and later worked as the Money section editor at AMNewYork, the most widely distributed newspaper in Manhattan. He currently works as a full-time freelance writer.