Fuel oil and other fuels prices are 344.39% higher in 2026 versus 1996 (a $3.51 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $5.92 in September 2026 for Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters). See observed price history.
Between 1996 and 2026, Fuel oil and other fuels experienced an average inflation rate of 5.10% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuel oil and other fuels costing $1.02 in the year 1996 would cost $4.53 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.53% during this same period, inflation for fuel oil and other fuels was higher.
In the year 1996: Pricing changed by 12.58%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fuel oil and other fuels during the 1996-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), inflation for fuel oil and other fuels was much higher.
Fuel oil and other fuels prices are up 43.8% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of fuel oil and other fuels rose 481%, from $1.02 per gallon in 1996 to $5.92 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 115% 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
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) | $4.86 | $4.86 |
| 2025 | $3.62 | $3.79 |
| 2024 | $3.61 | $3.87 |
| 2023 | $3.84 | $4.24 |
| 2022 | $5.01 | $5.77 |
| 2021 | $3.01 | $3.74 |
| 2020 | $2.29 | $2.98 |
| 2019 | $2.98 | $3.93 |
| 2018 | $3.09 | $4.14 |
| 2017 | $2.45 | $3.36 |
| 2016 | $2.11 | $2.96 |
| 2015 | $2.60 | $3.70 |
| 2014 | $3.71 | $5.28 |
| 2013 | $3.72 | $5.38 |
| 2012 | $3.75 | $5.51 |
| 2011 | $3.71 | $5.56 |
| 2010 | $2.93 | $4.52 |
| 2009 | $2.51 | $3.95 |
| 2008 | $3.75 | $5.87 |
| 2007 | $2.68 | $4.36 |
| 2006 | $2.50 | $4.17 |
| 2005 | $2.22 | $3.83 |
| 2004 | $1.65 | $2.93 |
| 2003 | $1.40 | $2.56 |
| 2002 | $1.16 | $2.18 |
| 2001 | $1.31 | $2.49 |
| 2000 | $1.36 | $2.66 |
| 1999 | $0.90 | $1.82 |
| 1998 | $0.88 | $1.82 |
| 1997 | $1.01 | $2.13 |
| 1996 | $1.02 | $2.19 |
| 1995 | $0.89 | $1.98 |
| 1994 | $0.92 | $2.08 |
| 1993 | $0.94 | $2.20 |
| 1992 | $0.96 | $2.31 |
| 1991 | $1.02 | $2.52 |
| 1990 | $1.09 | $2.80 |
| 1989 | $0.89 | $2.41 |
| 1988 | $0.85 | $2.41 |
| 1987 | $0.85 | $2.53 |
| 1986 | $0.83 | $2.57 |
| 1985 | $1.08 | $3.38 |
| 1984 | $1.12 | $3.63 |
| 1983 | $1.10 | $3.73 |
| 1982 | $1.21 | $4.22 |
| 1981 | $1.25 | $4.62 |
| 1980 | $1.01 | $4.13 |
| 1979 | $0.73 | $3.38 |
| 1978 | $0.54 | $2.79 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through September. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuel oil and other fuels, over time, for $1.02 beginning in 1996. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | $1.02 | 12.58% |
| 1997 | $1.03 | 0.67% |
| 1998 | $0.93 | -9.87% |
| 1999 | $0.94 | 1.58% |
| 2000 | $1.33 | 41.85% |
| 2001 | $1.33 | -0.30% |
| 2002 | $1.19 | -10.67% |
| 2003 | $1.43 | 20.79% |
| 2004 | $1.65 | 15.05% |
| 2005 | $2.14 | 29.94% |
| 2006 | $2.42 | 12.61% |
| 2007 | $2.59 | 7.07% |
| 2008 | $3.44 | 32.99% |
| 2009 | $2.47 | -28.30% |
| 2010 | $2.83 | 14.74% |
| 2011 | $3.47 | 22.53% |
| 2012 | $3.45 | -0.36% |
| 2013 | $3.41 | -1.16% |
| 2014 | $3.49 | 2.08% |
| 2015 | $2.63 | -24.42% |
| 2016 | $2.33 | -11.67% |
| 2017 | $2.62 | 12.43% |
| 2018 | $3.01 | 15.16% |
| 2019 | $2.89 | -4.17% |
| 2020 | $2.44 | -15.37% |
| 2021 | $3.11 | 27.36% |
| 2022 | $4.61 | 47.98% |
| 2023 | $3.99 | -13.36% |
| 2024 | $3.77 | -5.41% |
| 2025 | $3.71 | -1.68% |
| 2026 | $4.53 | 22.13%* |
* 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 | 440.726 |