Gasoline price history and inflation, 1976–2026
$4.48 per gallon, unleaded regular (Sep 2026)
BLS average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline, all formulations. Gas prices track crude oil, refining margins, seasonal blends and taxes. The latest average price is $4.48 for Sep 2026. That is +34.2% from a year earlier.
Adjusted for overall inflation (CPI-U), the 1976 average price of $0.61 would be $3.64 in Sep 2026 dollars, so gasoline has become more expensive in real terms.
Annual averages
| Year | Average price | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.26 | -5.6% |
| 2024 | $3.45 | -5.7% |
| 2023 | $3.66 | -10.6% |
| 2022 | $4.09 | +34.2% |
| 2021 | $3.05 | +40.3% |
| 2020 | $2.17 | -17.5% |
| 2019 | $2.64 | -3.6% |
| 2018 | $2.74 | +13.6% |
| 2017 | $2.41 | +12.4% |
| 2016 | $2.14 | -12.5% |
| 2015 | $2.45 | -27.3% |
| 2014 | $3.37 | -4.5% |
| 2013 | $3.53 | -3.2% |
| 2012 | $3.64 | +3.3% |
| 2011 | $3.53 | +26.5% |
| 2010 | $2.79 | +18.6% |
| 2009 | $2.35 | -28.0% |
| 2008 | $3.27 | +16.6% |
| 2007 | $2.80 | +8.2% |
| 2006 | $2.59 | +12.8% |
| 2005 | $2.30 | +22.1% |
| 2004 | $1.88 | +18.2% |
| 2003 | $1.59 | +17.2% |
| 2002 | $1.36 | -7.1% |
| 2001 | $1.46 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | $1.51 | +29.6% |
| 1999 | $1.17 | +10.0% |
| 1998 | $1.06 | -14.1% |
| 1997 | $1.23 | +0.2% |
| 1996 | $1.23 | +7.3% |
| 1995 | $1.15 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | $1.11 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | $1.11 | -1.6% |
| 1992 | $1.13 | -1.2% |
| 1991 | $1.14 | -2.1% |
| 1990 | $1.16 | +13.9% |
| 1989 | $1.02 | +8.0% |
| 1988 | $0.95 | -0.2% |
| 1987 | $0.95 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | $0.93 | -22.8% |
| 1985 | $1.20 | -0.9% |
| 1984 | $1.21 | -2.3% |
| 1983 | $1.24 | -4.2% |
| 1982 | $1.30 | -6.0% |
| 1981 | $1.38 | +10.7% |
| 1980 | $1.25 | +37.9% |
| 1979 | $0.90 | +34.8% |
| 1978 | $0.67 | +2.1% |
| 1977 | $0.66 | +6.8% |
| 1976 | $0.61 | +0.0% |