According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of fuel oil and other fuels rose 855%, from $0.54 per gallon in 1978 to $5.15 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 414% over the same period, so fuel oil and other fuels rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Fuel oil and other fuels prices are 7,504.09% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $385.71 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2026, Fuel oil and other fuels experienced an average inflation rate of 4.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuel oil and other fuels costing $5.14 in the year 1935 would cost $390.85 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for fuel oil and other fuels was higher.
The average price for fuel oil and other fuels 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 fuel oil #2 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) | $4.73 | $4.73 |
| 2025 | $3.62 | $3.77 |
| 2024 | $3.61 | $3.85 |
| 2023 | $3.84 | $4.22 |
| 2022 | $5.01 | $5.74 |
| 2021 | $3.01 | $3.72 |
| 2020 | $2.29 | $2.96 |
| 2019 | $2.98 | $3.91 |
| 2018 | $3.09 | $4.12 |
| 2017 | $2.45 | $3.34 |
| 2016 | $2.11 | $2.95 |
| 2015 | $2.60 | $3.68 |
| 2014 | $3.71 | $5.25 |
| 2013 | $3.72 | $5.35 |
| 2012 | $3.75 | $5.48 |
| 2011 | $3.71 | $5.53 |
| 2010 | $2.93 | $4.49 |
| 2009 | $2.51 | $3.93 |
| 2008 | $3.75 | $5.84 |
| 2007 | $2.68 | $4.33 |
| 2006 | $2.50 | $4.15 |
| 2005 | $2.22 | $3.81 |
| 2004 | $1.65 | $2.92 |
| 2003 | $1.40 | $2.55 |
| 2002 | $1.16 | $2.16 |
| 2001 | $1.31 | $2.48 |
| 2000 | $1.36 | $2.65 |
| 1999 | $0.90 | $1.81 |
| 1998 | $0.88 | $1.81 |
| 1997 | $1.01 | $2.12 |
| 1996 | $1.02 | $2.18 |
| 1995 | $0.89 | $1.96 |
| 1994 | $0.92 | $2.07 |
| 1993 | $0.94 | $2.19 |
| 1992 | $0.96 | $2.29 |
| 1991 | $1.02 | $2.50 |
| 1990 | $1.09 | $2.79 |
| 1989 | $0.89 | $2.40 |
| 1988 | $0.85 | $2.40 |
| 1987 | $0.85 | $2.51 |
| 1986 | $0.83 | $2.55 |
| 1985 | $1.08 | $3.36 |
| 1984 | $1.12 | $3.61 |
| 1983 | $1.10 | $3.70 |
| 1982 | $1.21 | $4.20 |
| 1981 | $1.25 | $4.59 |
| 1980 | $1.01 | $4.10 |
| 1979 | $0.73 | $3.36 |
| 1978 | $0.54 | $2.77 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuel oil and other fuels, over time, for $5.14 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | $5.14 | - |
| 1936 | $5.22 | 1.49% |
| 1937 | $5.34 | 2.31% |
| 1938 | $5.30 | -0.71% |
| 1939 | $5.19 | -1.99% |
| 1940 | $5.34 | 2.90% |
| 1941 | $5.67 | 6.06% |
| 1942 | $6.01 | 5.98% |
| 1943 | $6.32 | 5.26% |
| 1944 | $6.59 | 4.29% |
| 1945 | $6.72 | 1.94% |
| 1946 | $7.14 | 6.27% |
| 1947 | $8.17 | 14.33% |
| 1948 | $9.61 | 17.60% |
| 1949 | $9.82 | 2.19% |
| 1950 | $10.16 | 3.45% |
| 1951 | $10.70 | 5.41% |
| 1952 | $10.93 | 2.11% |
| 1953 | $11.40 | 4.34% |
| 1954 | $11.35 | -0.46% |
| 1955 | $11.50 | 1.33% |
| 1956 | $12.02 | 4.52% |
| 1957 | $12.63 | 5.07% |
| 1958 | $12.41 | -1.73% |
| 1959 | $12.54 | 1.03% |
| 1960 | $12.48 | -0.48% |
| 1961 | $12.74 | 2.05% |
| 1962 | $12.80 | 0.47% |
| 1963 | $13.03 | 1.82% |
| 1964 | $12.98 | -0.40% |
| 1965 | $13.24 | 2.03% |
| 1966 | $13.55 | 2.33% |
| 1967 | $13.98 | 3.17% |
| 1968 | $14.44 | 3.28% |
| 1969 | $14.75 | 2.19% |
| 1970 | $15.39 | 4.34% |
| 1971 | $16.43 | 6.75% |
| 1972 | $16.58 | 0.92% |
| 1973 | $19.04 | 14.80% |
| 1974 | $30.02 | 57.69% |
| 1975 | $32.90 | 9.60% |
| 1976 | $35.06 | 6.57% |
| 1977 | $39.65 | 13.07% |
| 1978 | $41.72 | 5.22% |
| 1979 | $56.38 | 35.15% |
| 1980 | $77.76 | 37.92% |
| 1981 | $94.53 | 21.57% |
| 1982 | $93.42 | -1.18% |
| 1983 | $87.83 | -5.99% |
| 1984 | $89.75 | 2.19% |
| 1985 | $86.65 | -3.46% |
| 1986 | $70.13 | -19.06% |
| 1987 | $70.35 | 0.31% |
| 1988 | $70.54 | 0.27% |
| 1989 | $73.78 | 4.60% |
| 1990 | $89.66 | 21.52% |
| 1991 | $85.49 | -4.64% |
| 1992 | $81.94 | -4.16% |
| 1993 | $81.56 | -0.46% |
| 1994 | $80.20 | -1.67% |
| 1995 | $79.58 | -0.78% |
| 1996 | $89.59 | 12.58% |
| 1997 | $90.19 | 0.67% |
| 1998 | $81.29 | -9.87% |
| 1999 | $82.57 | 1.58% |
| 2000 | $117.13 | 41.85% |
| 2001 | $116.79 | -0.30% |
| 2002 | $104.32 | -10.67% |
| 2003 | $126.01 | 20.79% |
| 2004 | $144.98 | 15.05% |
| 2005 | $188.39 | 29.94% |
| 2006 | $212.16 | 12.61% |
| 2007 | $227.15 | 7.07% |
| 2008 | $302.08 | 32.99% |
| 2009 | $216.60 | -28.30% |
| 2010 | $248.54 | 14.74% |
| 2011 | $304.54 | 22.53% |
| 2012 | $303.44 | -0.36% |
| 2013 | $299.93 | -1.16% |
| 2014 | $306.17 | 2.08% |
| 2015 | $231.42 | -24.42% |
| 2016 | $204.42 | -11.67% |
| 2017 | $229.83 | 12.43% |
| 2018 | $264.68 | 15.16% |
| 2019 | $253.65 | -4.17% |
| 2020 | $214.66 | -15.37% |
| 2021 | $273.39 | 27.36% |
| 2022 | $404.57 | 47.98% |
| 2023 | $350.52 | -13.36% |
| 2024 | $331.56 | -5.41% |
| 2025 | $325.99 | -1.68% |
| 2026 | $390.85 | 19.90%* |
* 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 Fuel oil and other fuels:
| 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 | 5.690 | 5.775 | 5.908 | 5.867 | 5.750 | 5.917 | 6.275 | 6.650 | 7.000 | 7.300 | 7.442 | 7.908 | 9.042 | 10.633 | 10.867 | 11.242 | 11.850 | 12.100 | 12.625 | 12.567 | 12.733 | 13.308 | 13.983 | 13.742 | 13.883 | 13.817 | 14.100 | 14.167 | 14.425 | 14.367 | 14.658 | 15.000 | 15.475 | 15.983 | 16.333 | 17.042 | 18.192 | 18.358 | 21.075 | 33.233 | 36.425 | 38.817 | 43.892 | 46.183 | 62.417 | 86.083 | 104.650 | 103.417 | 97.225 | 99.358 | 95.917 | 77.633 | 77.875 | 78.083 | 81.675 | 99.250 | 94.642 | 90.708 | 90.292 | 88.783 | 88.092 | 99.175 | 99.842 | 89.983 | 91.408 | 129.667 | 129.283 | 115.483 | 139.492 | 160.492 | 208.550 | 234.858 | 251.453 | 334.405 | 239.778 | 275.132 | 337.123 | 335.908 | 332.022 | 338.935 | 256.179 | 226.294 | 254.428 | 292.999 | 280.791 | 237.633 | 302.642 | 447.860 | 388.029 | 367.034 | 360.875 | 432.673 |