According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuel oil were 1,151.11% higher in 2020 versus 1972 (a $230.22 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2020: Fuel oil experienced an average inflation rate of 5.40% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuel oil costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $250.22 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for fuel oil was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 0.47%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for fuel oil during the 1972-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for fuel oil was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Fuel oil:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 11.892 | 12.508 | 12.592 | 13.008 | 13.658 | 14.350 | 13.525 | 13.700 | 13.475 | 14.025 | 14.025 | 14.300 | 14.000 | 14.292 | 14.675 | 15.133 | 15.625 | 15.942 | 16.550 | 17.575 | 17.658 | 20.358 | 32.250 | 34.883 | 37.400 | 42.408 | 44.958 | 63.158 | 87.775 | 107.350 | 105.017 | 96.483 | 98.550 | 94.592 | 74.008 | 75.908 | 75.758 | 80.325 | 98.625 | 92.258 | 88.008 | 87.233 | 85.633 | 84.767 | 97.017 | 96.758 | 84.817 | 86.775 | 130.417 | 125.692 | 111.608 | 136.300 | 159.708 | 216.358 | 244.583 | 262.597 | 364.999 | 240.197 | 282.932 | 367.804 | 376.126 | 370.154 | 364.669 | 254.054 | 209.267 | 241.697 | 296.159 | 282.425 | 220.925 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuel oil, over time, for $20 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $20.00 | 0.47% |
| 1973 | $23.06 | 15.29% |
| 1974 | $36.53 | 58.41% |
| 1975 | $39.51 | 8.17% |
| 1976 | $42.36 | 7.21% |
| 1977 | $48.03 | 13.39% |
| 1978 | $50.92 | 6.01% |
| 1979 | $71.53 | 40.48% |
| 1980 | $99.41 | 38.98% |
| 1981 | $121.59 | 22.30% |
| 1982 | $118.94 | -2.17% |
| 1983 | $109.28 | -8.13% |
| 1984 | $111.62 | 2.14% |
| 1985 | $107.14 | -4.02% |
| 1986 | $83.82 | -21.76% |
| 1987 | $85.97 | 2.57% |
| 1988 | $85.80 | -0.20% |
| 1989 | $90.98 | 6.03% |
| 1990 | $111.70 | 22.78% |
| 1991 | $104.49 | -6.46% |
| 1992 | $99.68 | -4.61% |
| 1993 | $98.80 | -0.88% |
| 1994 | $96.99 | -1.83% |
| 1995 | $96.01 | -1.01% |
| 1996 | $109.88 | 14.45% |
| 1997 | $109.59 | -0.27% |
| 1998 | $96.06 | -12.34% |
| 1999 | $98.28 | 2.31% |
| 2000 | $147.71 | 50.29% |
| 2001 | $142.36 | -3.62% |
| 2002 | $126.41 | -11.20% |
| 2003 | $154.37 | 22.12% |
| 2004 | $180.89 | 17.17% |
| 2005 | $245.05 | 35.47% |
| 2006 | $277.02 | 13.05% |
| 2007 | $297.42 | 7.37% |
| 2008 | $413.40 | 39.00% |
| 2009 | $272.05 | -34.19% |
| 2010 | $320.45 | 17.79% |
| 2011 | $416.58 | 30.00% |
| 2012 | $426.00 | 2.26% |
| 2013 | $419.24 | -1.59% |
| 2014 | $413.03 | -1.48% |
| 2015 | $287.74 | -30.33% |
| 2016 | $237.02 | -17.63% |
| 2017 | $273.75 | 15.50% |
| 2018 | $335.43 | 22.53% |
| 2019 | $319.88 | -4.64% |
| 2020 | $250.22 | -21.78%* |