Natural gas prices are 199.03% higher in 2026 versus 1982 (a $1.11 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $1.71 in August 2026 for Utility (piped) gas per therm. See observed price history.
Between 1982 and 2026, Natural gas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.52% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, natural gas costing $0.56 in the year 1982 would cost $1.67 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.85% during this same period, inflation for natural gas was lower.
In the year 1982: Pricing changed by 19.86%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for natural gas during the 1982-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1982 (6.13%), inflation for natural gas was much higher.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of natural gas rose 206%, from $0.56 per therm in 1982 to $1.71 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 247% over the same period, so natural gas rose more slowly 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 natural 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 utility (piped) gas per therm 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 therm) | Price, inflation-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $1.70 | $1.70 |
| 2025 | $1.62 | $1.69 |
| 2024 | $1.43 | $1.53 |
| 2023 | $1.46 | $1.61 |
| 2022 | $1.58 | $1.81 |
| 2021 | $1.25 | $1.54 |
| 2020 | $1.05 | $1.37 |
| 2019 | $1.04 | $1.37 |
| 2018 | $1.05 | $1.40 |
| 2017 | $1.02 | $1.39 |
| 2016 | $0.92 | $1.29 |
| 2015 | $0.94 | $1.34 |
| 2014 | $1.08 | $1.53 |
| 2013 | $1.01 | $1.45 |
| 2012 | $0.97 | $1.41 |
| 2011 | $1.07 | $1.59 |
| 2010 | $1.10 | $1.69 |
| 2009 | $1.12 | $1.75 |
| 2008 | $1.44 | $2.25 |
| 2007 | $1.26 | $2.04 |
| 2006 | $1.28 | $2.13 |
| 2005 | $1.25 | $2.15 |
| 2004 | $1.05 | $1.86 |
| 2003 | $0.97 | $1.76 |
| 2002 | $0.79 | $1.46 |
| 2001 | $0.94 | $1.77 |
| 2000 | $0.80 | $1.56 |
| 1999 | $0.69 | $1.38 |
| 1998 | $0.68 | $1.40 |
| 1997 | $0.69 | $1.43 |
| 1996 | $0.65 | $1.38 |
| 1995 | $0.62 | $1.36 |
| 1994 | $0.65 | $1.47 |
| 1993 | $0.63 | $1.47 |
| 1992 | $0.60 | $1.42 |
| 1991 | $0.60 | $1.47 |
| 1990 | $0.59 | $1.51 |
| 1989 | $0.59 | $1.59 |
| 1988 | $0.58 | $1.65 |
| 1987 | $0.58 | $1.70 |
| 1986 | $0.60 | $1.83 |
| 1985 | $0.63 | $1.97 |
| 1984 | $0.65 | $2.09 |
| 1983 | $0.65 | $2.18 |
| 1982 | $0.56 | $1.94 |
| 1981 | $0.47 | $1.72 |
| 1980 | $0.41 | $1.65 |
| 1979 | $0.35 | $1.60 |
| 1978 | $0.31 | $1.57 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Natural gas, over time, for $0.56 beginning in 1982. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | $0.56 | 19.86% |
| 1983 | $0.65 | 16.66% |
| 1984 | $0.66 | 0.75% |
| 1985 | $0.65 | -0.70% |
| 1986 | $0.62 | -4.90% |
| 1987 | $0.59 | -4.57% |
| 1988 | $0.59 | -0.60% |
| 1989 | $0.61 | 2.78% |
| 1990 | $0.61 | 0.19% |
| 1991 | $0.61 | 1.25% |
| 1992 | $0.63 | 1.82% |
| 1993 | $0.66 | 6.11% |
| 1994 | $0.68 | 1.90% |
| 1995 | $0.64 | -5.12% |
| 1996 | $0.67 | 4.12% |
| 1997 | $0.72 | 6.94% |
| 1998 | $0.70 | -1.98% |
| 1999 | $0.70 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | $0.82 | 16.87% |
| 2001 | $0.99 | 19.89% |
| 2002 | $0.84 | -14.53% |
| 2003 | $1.04 | 22.92% |
| 2004 | $1.12 | 8.29% |
| 2005 | $1.34 | 19.64% |
| 2006 | $1.38 | 2.47% |
| 2007 | $1.36 | -1.39% |
| 2008 | $1.55 | 13.83% |
| 2009 | $1.21 | -21.83% |
| 2010 | $1.18 | -2.08% |
| 2011 | $1.15 | -2.82% |
| 2012 | $1.04 | -9.63% |
| 2013 | $1.09 | 4.72% |
| 2014 | $1.17 | 7.05% |
| 2015 | $1.03 | -11.86% |
| 2016 | $1.00 | -2.41% |
| 2017 | $1.08 | 7.97% |
| 2018 | $1.08 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $1.07 | -1.48% |
| 2020 | $1.07 | 0.20% |
| 2021 | $1.25 | 16.74% |
| 2022 | $1.57 | 25.83% |
| 2023 | $1.46 | -7.19% |
| 2024 | $1.43 | -1.76% |
| 2025 | $1.59 | 11.22% |
| 2026 | $1.67 | 5.14%* |
* 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 Utility (piped) gas service:
| 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 | 12.800 | 12.742 | 12.600 | 12.708 | 12.842 | 12.808 | 12.675 | 12.608 | 12.492 | 12.442 | 12.283 | 12.058 | 12.167 | 12.542 | 13.092 | 13.208 | 13.108 | 13.367 | 13.792 | 14.050 | 14.608 | 14.842 | 15.100 | 16.000 | 16.542 | 17.650 | 17.875 | 17.892 | 17.858 | 17.950 | 17.992 | 18.083 | 18.075 | 18.225 | 18.567 | 19.575 | 20.992 | 22.092 | 23.092 | 25.983 | 31.142 | 36.317 | 43.200 | 47.483 | 55.125 | 65.692 | 74.892 | 89.767 | 104.725 | 105.508 | 104.775 | 99.642 | 95.092 | 94.517 | 97.142 | 97.325 | 98.542 | 100.333 | 106.467 | 108.492 | 102.933 | 107.175 | 114.617 | 112.350 | 112.950 | 132.008 | 158.267 | 135.275 | 166.283 | 180.067 | 215.433 | 220.758 | 217.688 | 247.803 | 193.717 | 189.678 | 184.334 | 166.585 | 174.451 | 186.754 | 164.597 | 160.628 | 173.433 | 173.609 | 171.038 | 171.387 | 200.084 | 251.763 | 233.671 | 229.554 | 255.304 | 268.433 |