Natural gas prices are 156.32% higher in 2026 versus 1983 (a $1.02 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 1983 and 2026, Natural gas experienced an average inflation rate of 2.21% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, natural gas costing $0.65 in the year 1983 would cost $1.67 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.84% during this same period, inflation for natural gas was lower.
In the year 1983: Pricing changed by 16.66%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for natural gas during the 1983-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1983 (3.21%), inflation for natural gas was much higher.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of natural gas rose 165%, from $0.65 per therm in 1983 to $1.71 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 236% 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 $0.65 beginning in 1983. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | $0.65 | 16.66% |
| 1984 | $0.65 | 0.75% |
| 1985 | $0.65 | -0.70% |
| 1986 | $0.62 | -4.90% |
| 1987 | $0.59 | -4.57% |
| 1988 | $0.59 | -0.60% |
| 1989 | $0.60 | 2.78% |
| 1990 | $0.60 | 0.19% |
| 1991 | $0.61 | 1.25% |
| 1992 | $0.62 | 1.82% |
| 1993 | $0.66 | 6.11% |
| 1994 | $0.67 | 1.90% |
| 1995 | $0.64 | -5.12% |
| 1996 | $0.67 | 4.12% |
| 1997 | $0.71 | 6.94% |
| 1998 | $0.70 | -1.98% |
| 1999 | $0.70 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | $0.82 | 16.87% |
| 2001 | $0.98 | 19.89% |
| 2002 | $0.84 | -14.53% |
| 2003 | $1.03 | 22.92% |
| 2004 | $1.12 | 8.29% |
| 2005 | $1.34 | 19.64% |
| 2006 | $1.37 | 2.47% |
| 2007 | $1.35 | -1.39% |
| 2008 | $1.54 | 13.83% |
| 2009 | $1.20 | -21.83% |
| 2010 | $1.18 | -2.08% |
| 2011 | $1.14 | -2.82% |
| 2012 | $1.03 | -9.63% |
| 2013 | $1.08 | 4.72% |
| 2014 | $1.16 | 7.05% |
| 2015 | $1.02 | -11.86% |
| 2016 | $1.00 | -2.41% |
| 2017 | $1.08 | 7.97% |
| 2018 | $1.08 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $1.06 | -1.48% |
| 2020 | $1.06 | 0.20% |
| 2021 | $1.24 | 16.74% |
| 2022 | $1.56 | 25.83% |
| 2023 | $1.45 | -7.19% |
| 2024 | $1.42 | -1.76% |
| 2025 | $1.58 | 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 |