The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (2024)

Table of Contents
Guzzling Gas 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 References
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Andrew Lisa
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (1)

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The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (2)

Guzzling Gas

More than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, gas prices have fallen to about $3.44 this week. Though last year's record spike above $5 was attributed to 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 2023 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.


Related: How Gas Stations Have Transformed Over the Past Century

The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (3)

1940

  • Price per gallon: 18 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.90

Related:Ways to Fill Up for Less at the Gas Station

The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (4)

1941

  • Price per gallon: 19 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.05

Related:How to Get Better Gas Mileage

The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (5)
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (6)
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (7)

1944

  • Price per gallon: 21 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.63
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (8)

1945

  • Price per gallon: 21 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.55

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The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (11)

1946

  • Price per gallon: 21 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.47
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (12)

1947

  • Price per gallon: 23 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.22
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (13)

1948

  • Price per gallon: 26 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.30
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (14)

1949

  • Price per gallon: 27 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.38
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (15)

1950

  • Price per gallon: 27 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.46

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The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (16)

1951

  • Price per gallon: 27 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.20
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (17)

1952

  • Price per gallon: 27 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.07
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (18)

1953

  • Price per gallon: 29 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.28
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (20)

1955

  • Price per gallon: 29 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.27
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (21)

1956

  • Price per gallon: 30 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.37
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (22)

1957

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.38
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (23)

1958

  • Price per gallon: 30 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.16
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (24)

1959

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.22
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (25)

1960

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.18
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (26)

1961

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.13
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (27)

1962

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.13
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (28)

1963

  • Price per gallon: 30 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.97
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (29)

1964

  • Price per gallon: 30 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.92
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (30)

1965

  • Price per gallon: 31 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.99
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (31)

1966

  • Price per gallon: 32 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.03
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (32)

1967

  • Price per gallon: 33 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.02
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (33)

1968

  • Price per gallon: 34 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (34)

1969

  • Price per gallon: 35 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.96
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (35)

1970

  • Price per gallon: 36 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.87
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (36)

1971

  • Price per gallon: 36 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.72
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (37)

1972

  • Price per gallon: 36 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.64
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (38)

1973

  • Price per gallon: 39 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.75
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (39)

1974

  • Price per gallon: 53 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.42
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (40)

1975

  • Price per gallon: 57 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.29
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (41)

1976

  • Price per gallon: 59 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.19
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (42)

1977

  • Price per gallon: 62 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.19
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (43)

1978

  • Price per gallon: 63 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.03
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (44)

1979

  • Price per gallon: 86 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.79
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (45)

1980

  • Price per gallon: $1.19
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.60
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (46)

1981

  • Price per gallon: $1.31
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.53
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (47)

1982

  • Price per gallon: $1.22
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.89
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (48)

1983

  • Price per gallon: $1.16
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.57
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (49)

1984

  • Price per gallon: $1.13
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.34
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (50)

1985

  • Price per gallon: $1.12
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.19
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (51)

1986

  • Price per gallon: 86 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.36
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (52)

1987

  • Price per gallon: 90 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.43
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (53)

1988

  • Price per gallon: 90 cents
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.34
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (54)

1989

  • Price per gallon: $1
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.48
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (55)

1990

  • Price per gallon: $1.15
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.72
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (56)

1991

  • Price per gallon: $1.14
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.55
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (57)

1992

  • Price per gallon: $1.13
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.46
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (58)

1993

  • Price per gallon: $1.11
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.34
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (59)

1994

  • Price per gallon: $1.11
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.28
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (60)

1995

  • Price per gallon: $1.15
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.30
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (61)

1996

  • Price per gallon: $1.23
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.40
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (62)

1997

  • Price per gallon: $1.23
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.33
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (63)

1998

  • Price per gallon: $1.06
  • Adjusted for inflation: $1.97
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (64)

1999

  • Price per gallon: $1.17
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.14
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (65)

2000

  • Price per gallon: $1.51
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.69
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (66)

2001

  • Price per gallon: $1.46
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.51
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (67)

2002

  • Price per gallon: $1.36
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.31
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (68)

2003

  • Price per gallon: $1.59
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.63
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (69)

2004

  • Price per gallon: $1.88
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.05
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (70)

2005

  • Price per gallon: $2.30
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.63
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (71)

2006

  • Price per gallon: $2.59
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.93
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (72)

2007

  • Price per gallon: $2.80
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.16
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (73)

2008

  • Price per gallon: $3.27
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.66
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (74)

2009

  • Price per gallon: $2.35
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.35
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (75)

2010

  • Price per gallon: $2.79
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.87
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (76)

2011

  • Price per gallon: $3.53
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.82
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (77)

2012

  • Price per gallon: $3.64
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.83
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (78)

2013

  • Price per gallon: $3.53
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.61
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (79)

2014

  • Price per gallon: $3.37
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.33
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (80)

2015

  • Price per gallon: $2.45
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.15
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (81)

2016

  • Price per gallon: $2.14
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.72
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (82)

2017

  • Price per gallon: $2.42
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (83)

2018

  • Price per gallon: $2.72
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.30
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (84)

2019

  • Price per gallon: $2.60
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.11
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (85)

2020

  • Price per gallon: $2.18
  • Adjusted for inflation: $2.54
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (86)

2021

  • Price per gallon: $3.01
  • Adjusted for inflation: $3.46
The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (87)

2022

  • Price per gallon: $3.95
  • Adjusted for inflation: $4.01

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The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born (2024)

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