Gas prices are 1,669.22% higher in 2026 versus 1950 (a $70.11 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $4.20 in August 2026 for Gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon/3.785 liters. See observed price history.
Between 1950 and 2026, Gas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.85% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gas costing $4.20 in the year 1950 would cost $74.31 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.51% during this same period, inflation for gas was higher.
In the year 1950: Pricing changed by -0.92%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for gas during the 1950-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1950 (1.09%), inflation for gas was lower.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of gas rose 584%, from $0.61 per gallon in 1976 to $4.20 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 489% over the same period, so gas rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
The average price for gas is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of gasoline, unleaded regular, per gallon/3.785 liters each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
| Year | Price (per gallon) | Price, inflation-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $3.91 | $3.91 |
| 2025 | $3.26 | $3.39 |
| 2024 | $3.45 | $3.68 |
| 2023 | $3.66 | $4.02 |
| 2022 | $4.09 | $4.69 |
| 2021 | $3.05 | $3.77 |
| 2020 | $2.17 | $2.81 |
| 2019 | $2.64 | $3.45 |
| 2018 | $2.74 | $3.65 |
| 2017 | $2.41 | $3.29 |
| 2016 | $2.14 | $2.99 |
| 2015 | $2.45 | $3.46 |
| 2014 | $3.37 | $4.76 |
| 2013 | $3.53 | $5.07 |
| 2012 | $3.64 | $5.32 |
| 2011 | $3.53 | $5.25 |
| 2010 | $2.79 | $4.28 |
| 2009 | $2.35 | $3.67 |
| 2008 | $3.27 | $5.08 |
| 2007 | $2.80 | $4.52 |
| 2006 | $2.59 | $4.30 |
| 2005 | $2.30 | $3.94 |
| 2004 | $1.88 | $3.33 |
| 2003 | $1.59 | $2.90 |
| 2002 | $1.36 | $2.53 |
| 2001 | $1.46 | $2.76 |
| 2000 | $1.51 | $2.94 |
| 1999 | $1.17 | $2.34 |
| 1998 | $1.06 | $2.18 |
| 1997 | $1.23 | $2.57 |
| 1996 | $1.23 | $2.63 |
| 1995 | $1.15 | $2.52 |
| 1994 | $1.11 | $2.51 |
| 1993 | $1.11 | $2.57 |
| 1992 | $1.13 | $2.69 |
| 1991 | $1.14 | $2.80 |
| 1990 | $1.16 | $2.98 |
| 1989 | $1.02 | $2.76 |
| 1988 | $0.95 | $2.68 |
| 1987 | $0.95 | $2.80 |
| 1986 | $0.93 | $2.83 |
| 1985 | $1.20 | $3.74 |
| 1984 | $1.21 | $3.91 |
| 1983 | $1.24 | $4.17 |
| 1982 | $1.30 | $4.50 |
| 1981 | $1.38 | $5.08 |
| 1980 | $1.25 | $5.06 |
| 1979 | $0.90 | $4.17 |
| 1978 | $0.67 | $3.44 |
| 1977 | $0.66 | $3.63 |
| 1976 | $0.61 | $3.62 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gas, over time, for $4.20 beginning in 1950. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $4.20 | -0.92% |
| 1951 | $4.32 | 2.82% |
| 1952 | $4.45 | 2.96% |
| 1953 | $4.67 | 5.03% |
| 1954 | $4.83 | 3.49% |
| 1955 | $4.89 | 1.15% |
| 1956 | $5.07 | 3.67% |
| 1957 | $5.28 | 4.12% |
| 1958 | $5.20 | -1.40% |
| 1959 | $5.27 | 1.24% |
| 1960 | $5.42 | 2.84% |
| 1961 | $5.36 | -1.02% |
| 1962 | $5.39 | 0.55% |
| 1963 | $5.38 | -0.14% |
| 1964 | $5.36 | -0.45% |
| 1965 | $5.51 | 2.83% |
| 1966 | $5.67 | 2.85% |
| 1967 | $5.86 | 3.43% |
| 1968 | $5.95 | 1.42% |
| 1969 | $6.14 | 3.33% |
| 1970 | $6.20 | 0.84% |
| 1971 | $6.23 | 0.54% |
| 1972 | $6.31 | 1.28% |
| 1973 | $6.92 | 9.76% |
| 1974 | $9.37 | 35.36% |
| 1975 | $10.01 | 6.83% |
| 1976 | $10.43 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $11.03 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $11.51 | 4.31% |
| 1979 | $15.57 | 35.33% |
| 1980 | $21.64 | 38.98% |
| 1981 | $24.09 | 11.30% |
| 1982 | $22.82 | -5.27% |
| 1983 | $22.06 | -3.32% |
| 1984 | $21.70 | -1.64% |
| 1985 | $21.88 | 0.84% |
| 1986 | $17.09 | -21.91% |
| 1987 | $17.78 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $17.93 | 0.84% |
| 1989 | $19.63 | 9.49% |
| 1990 | $22.41 | 14.14% |
| 1991 | $22.02 | -1.72% |
| 1992 | $21.97 | -0.27% |
| 1993 | $21.69 | -1.25% |
| 1994 | $21.79 | 0.46% |
| 1995 | $22.15 | 1.64% |
| 1996 | $23.49 | 6.09% |
| 1997 | $23.47 | -0.10% |
| 1998 | $20.34 | -13.36% |
| 1999 | $22.22 | 9.28% |
| 2000 | $28.53 | 28.40% |
| 2001 | $27.51 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $25.75 | -6.42% |
| 2003 | $29.99 | 16.48% |
| 2004 | $35.43 | 18.16% |
| 2005 | $43.21 | 21.93% |
| 2006 | $48.81 | 12.97% |
| 2007 | $52.81 | 8.19% |
| 2008 | $61.58 | 16.60% |
| 2009 | $44.73 | -27.36% |
| 2010 | $52.95 | 18.38% |
| 2011 | $66.95 | 26.45% |
| 2012 | $69.12 | 3.24% |
| 2013 | $67.15 | -2.86% |
| 2014 | $64.56 | -3.86% |
| 2015 | $47.05 | -27.12% |
| 2016 | $41.63 | -11.51% |
| 2017 | $47.00 | 12.88% |
| 2018 | $53.40 | 13.61% |
| 2019 | $51.49 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $43.08 | -16.32% |
| 2021 | $58.59 | 36.00% |
| 2022 | $77.18 | 31.71% |
| 2023 | $69.15 | -10.40% |
| 2024 | $65.63 | -5.09% |
| 2025 | $61.87 | -5.73% |
| 2026 | $74.31 | 20.11%* |
* 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 Gasoline (all types):
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 13.170 | 13.550 | 14.208 | 13.858 | 12.950 | 12.750 | 13.325 | 14.108 | 14.250 | 14.300 | 14.250 | 14.508 | 16.283 | 18.467 | 19.100 | 18.925 | 19.458 | 20.033 | 21.042 | 21.775 | 22.025 | 22.833 | 23.775 | 23.442 | 23.733 | 24.408 | 24.158 | 24.292 | 24.258 | 24.150 | 24.833 | 25.542 | 26.417 | 26.792 | 27.683 | 27.917 | 28.067 | 28.425 | 31.200 | 42.233 | 45.117 | 46.992 | 49.708 | 51.850 | 70.167 | 97.517 | 108.533 | 102.808 | 99.400 | 97.767 | 98.592 | 76.992 | 80.125 | 80.800 | 88.467 | 100.975 | 99.242 | 98.975 | 97.733 | 98.183 | 99.792 | 105.867 | 105.758 | 91.633 | 100.133 | 128.567 | 123.967 | 116.008 | 135.125 | 159.667 | 194.683 | 219.942 | 237.959 | 277.457 | 201.555 | 238.594 | 301.694 | 311.470 | 302.577 | 290.889 | 212.007 | 187.602 | 211.769 | 240.598 | 232.003 | 194.130 | 264.017 | 347.747 | 311.574 | 295.730 | 278.773 | 334.824 |