Fuel oil and other fuels priced at $3.43 in 1972 $68.97 in 2024

Fuel Oil And Other Fuels Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Fuel Oil And Other Fuels, 1972-2024 ($3.43)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuel oil and other fuels are 1,910.75% higher in 2024 versus 1972 (a $65.54 difference in value).

The current national average price is $3.43 for "Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.

Between 1972 and 2024: Fuel oil and other fuels experienced an average inflation rate of 5.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuel oil and other fuels costing $3.43 in the year 1972 would cost $68.97 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.95% during this same period, inflation for fuel oil and other fuels was higher.

In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 0.89%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for fuel oil and other fuels during the 1972-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for fuel oil and other fuels was lower.

Price Inflation for Fuel oil and other fuels since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1974 (57.66%), 2022 (47.98%), and 2000 (41.86%).

Price history

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. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.

Average prices for Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters):

YearAverage price (Fuel oil and other fuels)Inflation adjusted price (2024 dollars)
2024$3.43 (latest available value)$3.43
2023$3.84$3.65
2022$5.01$4.13
2021$3.01$3.66
2020$2.29$3.55
2019$2.98$3.92
2018$3.09$3.89
2017$2.45$3.55
2016$2.11$3.44
2015$2.60$3.75
2014$3.71$4.04
2013$3.72$4.14
2012$3.75$4.12
2011$3.71$4.06
2010$2.93$3.92
2009$2.51$3.87
2008$3.75$4.14
2007$2.68$3.93
2006$2.50$3.92
2005$2.22$3.93
2004$1.65$3.78
2003$1.40$3.71
2002$1.16$3.71
2001$1.31$3.74
2000$1.36$3.87
1999$0.90$3.63
1998$0.88$3.61
1997$1.01$3.75
1996$1.02$3.79
1995$0.89$3.74
1994$0.92$3.81
1993$0.94$3.86
1992$0.96$3.91
1991$1.02$3.97
1990$1.09$4.04
1989$0.89$4.01
1988$0.85$4.00
1987$0.85$4.04
1986$0.83$3.97
1985$1.08$4.15
1984$1.12$4.16
1983$1.10$4.18
1982$1.21$4.31
1981$1.25$4.40
1980$1.01$4.33
1979$0.73$4.30
1978$0.54$4.31

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $3.43 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuel oil and other fuels, over time, for $3.43 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1972$3.430.89%
1973$3.9414.84%
1974$6.2157.66%
1975$6.819.61%
1976$7.256.57%
1977$8.2013.08%
1978$8.635.22%
1979$11.6635.14%
1980$16.0937.92%
1981$19.5621.56%
1982$19.33-1.18%
1983$18.17-5.99%
1984$18.572.20%
1985$17.92-3.47%
1986$14.51-19.06%
1987$14.550.32%
1988$14.590.27%
1989$15.264.60%
1990$18.5521.52%
1991$17.69-4.65%
1992$16.95-4.15%
1993$16.87-0.46%
1994$16.59-1.67%
1995$16.46-0.78%
1996$18.5312.58%
1997$18.660.67%
1998$16.82-9.87%
1999$17.081.58%
2000$24.2341.86%
2001$24.16-0.30%
2002$21.58-10.67%
2003$26.0720.79%
2004$29.9915.05%
2005$38.9729.95%
2006$43.8912.61%
2007$46.997.06%
2008$62.4932.99%
2009$44.81-28.30%
2010$51.4214.74%
2011$63.0022.53%
2012$62.78-0.36%
2013$62.05-1.16%
2014$63.342.08%
2015$47.88-24.42%
2016$42.29-11.67%
2017$47.5512.43%
2018$54.7615.16%
2019$52.47-4.17%
2020$44.41-15.37%
2021$56.5627.36%
2022$83.7047.98%
2023$72.52-13.36%
2024$68.97-4.89%*

* 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:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI5.6755.7835.9205.8605.7405.9406.2776.6547.0007.3007.4387.9089.03810.63110.86911.24611.84612.10012.62312.56912.73113.30813.98513.73813.88513.81514.10014.16914.42314.36914.65415.00015.47715.98516.33117.03818.19218.35421.07733.23136.42338.81543.89246.18562.41586.085104.646103.41597.22399.36295.91577.63177.87778.08581.67799.25494.63890.70890.29288.78588.09299.17799.83889.98591.408129.669129.285115.485139.492160.492208.554234.862251.453334.405239.778275.132337.123335.908332.022338.935256.179226.294254.428292.999280.791237.633302.642447.860388.029369.049

Adjust fuel oil and other fuels prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1972 * 1972 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Fuel oil and other fuels was 18.354 in the year 1972 and 369.049 in 2024:

369.049 / 18.354 * $3.43 = $68.97

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3.43 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $68.97 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Fuel oil and other fuels).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Fuel oil and other fuels in 1935. In addition to fuel oil and other fuels, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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