The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born

More than three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, gas prices have stabilized, averaging around $3.60 nationally this week. While the record-breaking surge above $5 per gallon in 2022 was largely linked to the early stages of 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 2025 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: $4.21

1941

• Price per gallon: 19 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.38

1942

• Price per gallon: 20 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.14

1943

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.04

1944

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.92

1945

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.83

1946

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.75

1947

• Price per gallon: 23 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.47

1948

• Price per gallon: 26 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.56

1949

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.65

1950

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.73

1951

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.45

1952

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.31

1953

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.54

1954

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.50

1955

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.53

1956

• Price per gallon: 30 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.64

1957

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.65

1958

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.41

1959

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.47

1960

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.44

1961

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

1962

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.36

1963

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.21

1964

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.15

1965

• Price per gallon: 31 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.23

1966

• Price per gallon: 32 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.27

1967

• Price per gallon: 33 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.26

1968

• Price per gallon: 34 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.24

1969

• Price per gallon: 35 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

1970

• Price per gallon: 36 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.09

1971

• Price per gallon: 36 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.94

1972

• Price per gallon: 36 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.84

1973

• Price per gallon: 39 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.97

1974

• Price per gallon: 53 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.69

1975

• Price per gallon: 57 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.55

1976

• Price per gallon: 59 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.45

1977

• Price per gallon: 62 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.44

1978

• Price per gallon: 63 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.27

1979

• Price per gallon: 86 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.09

1980

• Price per gallon: $1.19 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.97

1981

• Price per gallon: $1.31 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.89

1982

• Price per gallon: $1.22 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.20

1983

• Price per gallon: $1.16 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.85

1984

• Price per gallon: $1.13 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.60

1985

• Price per gallon: $1.12 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.45

1986

• Price per gallon: 86 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.55

1987

• Price per gallon: 90 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.63

1988

• Price per gallon: 90 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.53

1989

• Price per gallon: $1 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.39

1990

• Price per gallon: $1.15 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.93

1991

• Price per gallon: $1.14 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.75

1992

• Price per gallon: $1.13 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.66

1993

• Price per gallon: $1.11
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.53

1994

• Price per gallon: $1.11 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.47

1995

• Price per gallon: $1.15 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.49

1996

• Price per gallon: $1.23 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.59

1997

• Price per gallon: $1.23 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.51

1998

• Price per gallon: $1.06 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.13

1999

• Price per gallon: $1.17 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.31

2000

• Price per gallon: $1.51 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.91

2001

• Price per gallon: $1.46 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.71

2002

• Price per gallon: $1.36 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.49

2003

• Price per gallon: $1.59 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.84

2004

• Price per gallon: $1.88 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.30

2005

• Price per gallon: $2.30 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.92

2006

• Price per gallon: $2.59 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.24

2007

• Price per gallon: $2.80 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.49

2008

• Price per gallon: $3.27 
• Adjusted for inflation: $5.03

2009

• Price per gallon: $2.35 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.61

2010

• Price per gallon: $2.79 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.18

2011

• Price per gallon: $3.53 
• Adjusted for inflation: $5.21

2012

• Price per gallon: $3.64 
• Adjusted for inflation: $5.22

2013

• Price per gallon: $3.53 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.98

2014

• Price per gallon: $3.37 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.68

2015

• Price per gallon: $2.45 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.40

2016

• Price per gallon: $2.14 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.93

2017

• Price per gallon: $2.42 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.24

2018

• Price per gallon: $2.72 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.56

2019

• Price per gallon: $2.60 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.35

2020

• Price per gallon: $2.18 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.74

2021

• Price per gallon: $3.01 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.74

2022

• Price per gallon: $3.95
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.56

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