According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of gasoline, unleaded regular rose 584%, from $0.61 per gallon in 1976 to $4.20 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 489% over the same period, so gasoline, unleaded regular rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Gasoline, unleaded regular prices are 601.51% higher in 2026 versus 1976 (a $3.67 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2026, Gasoline, unleaded regular experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gasoline, unleaded regular costing $0.61 in the year 1976 would cost $4.28 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.59% during this same period, inflation for gasoline, unleaded regular was higher.
The average price for gasoline, unleaded regular 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 gasoline, unleaded regular, 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) | $3.91 | $3.91 |
| 2025 | $3.26 | $3.39 |
| 2024 | $3.45 | $3.68 |
| 2023 | $3.66 | $4.02 |
| 2022 | $4.09 | $4.69 |
| 2021 | $3.05 | $3.77 |
| 2020 | $2.17 | $2.81 |
| 2019 | $2.64 | $3.45 |
| 2018 | $2.74 | $3.65 |
| 2017 | $2.41 | $3.29 |
| 2016 | $2.14 | $2.99 |
| 2015 | $2.45 | $3.46 |
| 2014 | $3.37 | $4.76 |
| 2013 | $3.53 | $5.07 |
| 2012 | $3.64 | $5.32 |
| 2011 | $3.53 | $5.25 |
| 2010 | $2.79 | $4.28 |
| 2009 | $2.35 | $3.67 |
| 2008 | $3.27 | $5.08 |
| 2007 | $2.80 | $4.52 |
| 2006 | $2.59 | $4.30 |
| 2005 | $2.30 | $3.94 |
| 2004 | $1.88 | $3.33 |
| 2003 | $1.59 | $2.90 |
| 2002 | $1.36 | $2.53 |
| 2001 | $1.46 | $2.76 |
| 2000 | $1.51 | $2.94 |
| 1999 | $1.17 | $2.34 |
| 1998 | $1.06 | $2.18 |
| 1997 | $1.23 | $2.57 |
| 1996 | $1.23 | $2.63 |
| 1995 | $1.15 | $2.52 |
| 1994 | $1.11 | $2.51 |
| 1993 | $1.11 | $2.57 |
| 1992 | $1.13 | $2.69 |
| 1991 | $1.14 | $2.80 |
| 1990 | $1.16 | $2.98 |
| 1989 | $1.02 | $2.76 |
| 1988 | $0.95 | $2.68 |
| 1987 | $0.95 | $2.80 |
| 1986 | $0.93 | $2.83 |
| 1985 | $1.20 | $3.74 |
| 1984 | $1.21 | $3.91 |
| 1983 | $1.24 | $4.17 |
| 1982 | $1.30 | $4.50 |
| 1981 | $1.38 | $5.08 |
| 1980 | $1.25 | $5.06 |
| 1979 | $0.90 | $4.17 |
| 1978 | $0.67 | $3.44 |
| 1977 | $0.66 | $3.63 |
| 1976 | $0.61 | $3.62 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gasoline, unleaded regular, over time, for $0.61 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $0.61 | - |
| 1977 | $0.65 | 6.86% |
| 1978 | $0.68 | 4.87% |
| 1979 | $0.92 | 34.91% |
| 1980 | $1.27 | 38.24% |
| 1981 | $1.42 | 11.41% |
| 1982 | $1.34 | -5.37% |
| 1983 | $1.30 | -3.23% |
| 1984 | $1.28 | -1.63% |
| 1985 | $1.29 | 1.02% |
| 1986 | $1.00 | -22.69% |
| 1987 | $1.04 | 3.74% |
| 1988 | $1.04 | 0.38% |
| 1989 | $1.13 | 8.79% |
| 1990 | $1.29 | 14.31% |
| 1991 | $1.27 | -1.70% |
| 1992 | $1.27 | -0.45% |
| 1993 | $1.25 | -1.66% |
| 1994 | $1.25 | 0.60% |
| 1995 | $1.28 | 1.83% |
| 1996 | $1.36 | 6.51% |
| 1997 | $1.36 | -0.07% |
| 1998 | $1.17 | -14.11% |
| 1999 | $1.28 | 9.89% |
| 2000 | $1.66 | 29.90% |
| 2001 | $1.60 | -3.65% |
| 2002 | $1.50 | -6.73% |
| 2003 | $1.75 | 17.13% |
| 2004 | $2.08 | 18.60% |
| 2005 | $2.54 | 22.35% |
| 2006 | $2.88 | 13.18% |
| 2007 | $3.12 | 8.26% |
| 2008 | $3.63 | 16.57% |
| 2009 | $2.62 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $3.11 | 18.66% |
| 2011 | $3.95 | 26.80% |
| 2012 | $4.07 | 3.19% |
| 2013 | $3.95 | -3.12% |
| 2014 | $3.79 | -4.04% |
| 2015 | $2.73 | -27.88% |
| 2016 | $2.40 | -12.05% |
| 2017 | $2.72 | 13.08% |
| 2018 | $3.09 | 13.71% |
| 2019 | $2.97 | -3.84% |
| 2020 | $2.47 | -16.85% |
| 2021 | $3.39 | 37.16% |
| 2022 | $4.47 | 32.02% |
| 2023 | $3.99 | -10.78% |
| 2024 | $3.78 | -5.29% |
| 2025 | $3.55 | -6.14% |
| 2026 | $4.28 | 20.66%* |
* 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 Gasoline, unleaded regular:
| Year | 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 | 46.625 | 49.825 | 52.250 | 70.492 | 97.450 | 108.567 | 102.742 | 99.425 | 97.808 | 98.808 | 76.392 | 79.250 | 79.550 | 86.542 | 98.925 | 97.242 | 96.808 | 95.200 | 95.767 | 97.517 | 103.867 | 103.792 | 89.150 | 97.967 | 127.258 | 122.608 | 114.358 | 133.950 | 158.867 | 194.367 | 219.983 | 238.151 | 277.607 | 200.479 | 237.888 | 301.650 | 311.274 | 301.569 | 289.398 | 208.711 | 183.571 | 207.579 | 236.040 | 226.973 | 188.739 | 258.872 | 341.765 | 304.937 | 288.798 | 271.074 | 327.078 |