According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of natural gas rose 459%, from $0.31 per therm in 1978 to $1.71 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 414% over the same period, so natural gas rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Natural gas prices are 1,997.13% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $34.15 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2026, Natural gas experienced an average inflation rate of 3.40% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, natural gas costing $1.71 in the year 1935 would cost $35.86 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for natural gas was lower.
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 $1.71 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 | $1.71 | - |
| 1936 | $1.70 | -0.46% |
| 1937 | $1.68 | -1.11% |
| 1938 | $1.70 | 0.86% |
| 1939 | $1.72 | 1.05% |
| 1940 | $1.71 | -0.26% |
| 1941 | $1.69 | -1.04% |
| 1942 | $1.68 | -0.53% |
| 1943 | $1.67 | -0.93% |
| 1944 | $1.66 | -0.40% |
| 1945 | $1.64 | -1.27% |
| 1946 | $1.61 | -1.83% |
| 1947 | $1.63 | 0.90% |
| 1948 | $1.68 | 3.08% |
| 1949 | $1.75 | 4.39% |
| 1950 | $1.76 | 0.89% |
| 1951 | $1.75 | -0.76% |
| 1952 | $1.79 | 1.97% |
| 1953 | $1.84 | 3.18% |
| 1954 | $1.88 | 1.87% |
| 1955 | $1.95 | 3.97% |
| 1956 | $1.98 | 1.60% |
| 1957 | $2.02 | 1.74% |
| 1958 | $2.14 | 5.96% |
| 1959 | $2.21 | 3.39% |
| 1960 | $2.36 | 6.70% |
| 1961 | $2.39 | 1.27% |
| 1962 | $2.39 | 0.09% |
| 1963 | $2.39 | -0.19% |
| 1964 | $2.40 | 0.51% |
| 1965 | $2.40 | 0.23% |
| 1966 | $2.42 | 0.51% |
| 1967 | $2.41 | -0.05% |
| 1968 | $2.43 | 0.83% |
| 1969 | $2.48 | 1.87% |
| 1970 | $2.62 | 5.43% |
| 1971 | $2.80 | 7.24% |
| 1972 | $2.95 | 5.24% |
| 1973 | $3.08 | 4.53% |
| 1974 | $3.47 | 12.52% |
| 1975 | $4.16 | 19.85% |
| 1976 | $4.85 | 16.62% |
| 1977 | $5.77 | 18.95% |
| 1978 | $6.34 | 9.92% |
| 1979 | $7.36 | 16.09% |
| 1980 | $8.78 | 19.17% |
| 1981 | $10.01 | 14.00% |
| 1982 | $11.99 | 19.86% |
| 1983 | $13.99 | 16.66% |
| 1984 | $14.10 | 0.75% |
| 1985 | $14.00 | -0.70% |
| 1986 | $13.31 | -4.90% |
| 1987 | $12.70 | -4.57% |
| 1988 | $12.63 | -0.60% |
| 1989 | $12.98 | 2.78% |
| 1990 | $13.00 | 0.19% |
| 1991 | $13.16 | 1.25% |
| 1992 | $13.40 | 1.82% |
| 1993 | $14.22 | 6.11% |
| 1994 | $14.49 | 1.90% |
| 1995 | $13.75 | -5.12% |
| 1996 | $14.32 | 4.12% |
| 1997 | $15.31 | 6.94% |
| 1998 | $15.01 | -1.98% |
| 1999 | $15.09 | 0.53% |
| 2000 | $17.64 | 16.87% |
| 2001 | $21.14 | 19.89% |
| 2002 | $18.07 | -14.53% |
| 2003 | $22.21 | 22.92% |
| 2004 | $24.06 | 8.29% |
| 2005 | $28.78 | 19.64% |
| 2006 | $29.49 | 2.47% |
| 2007 | $29.08 | -1.39% |
| 2008 | $33.10 | 13.83% |
| 2009 | $25.88 | -21.83% |
| 2010 | $25.34 | -2.08% |
| 2011 | $24.63 | -2.82% |
| 2012 | $22.25 | -9.63% |
| 2013 | $23.31 | 4.72% |
| 2014 | $24.95 | 7.05% |
| 2015 | $21.99 | -11.86% |
| 2016 | $21.46 | -2.41% |
| 2017 | $23.17 | 7.97% |
| 2018 | $23.19 | 0.10% |
| 2019 | $22.85 | -1.48% |
| 2020 | $22.90 | 0.20% |
| 2021 | $26.73 | 16.74% |
| 2022 | $33.63 | 25.83% |
| 2023 | $31.22 | -7.19% |
| 2024 | $30.67 | -1.76% |
| 2025 | $34.11 | 11.22% |
| 2026 | $35.86 | 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 |