According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuels and utilities are 944.06% higher in 2025 versus 1971 (a $188.81 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2025: Fuels and utilities experienced an average inflation rate of 4.44% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuels and utilities costing $20 in the year 1971 would cost $208.81 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for fuels and utilities was higher.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 6.81%, which is above the average yearly change for fuels and utilities during the 1971-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), inflation for fuels and utilities was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuels and utilities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $20.00 | 6.81% |
| 1972 | $20.88 | 4.40% |
| 1973 | $22.08 | 5.73% |
| 1974 | $26.13 | 18.34% |
| 1975 | $29.19 | 11.73% |
| 1976 | $31.78 | 8.86% |
| 1977 | $35.17 | 10.69% |
| 1978 | $37.57 | 6.82% |
| 1979 | $41.62 | 10.78% |
| 1980 | $48.46 | 16.43% |
| 1981 | $55.54 | 14.60% |
| 1982 | $61.02 | 9.87% |
| 1983 | $64.42 | 5.57% |
| 1984 | $67.39 | 4.61% |
| 1985 | $68.47 | 1.61% |
| 1986 | $66.92 | -2.27% |
| 1987 | $66.22 | -1.04% |
| 1988 | $67.13 | 1.37% |
| 1989 | $69.27 | 3.19% |
| 1990 | $71.74 | 3.57% |
| 1991 | $74.09 | 3.27% |
| 1992 | $75.72 | 2.20% |
| 1993 | $77.98 | 2.98% |
| 1994 | $78.92 | 1.21% |
| 1995 | $79.48 | 0.71% |
| 1996 | $81.96 | 3.12% |
| 1997 | $84.04 | 2.55% |
| 1998 | $82.57 | -1.75% |
| 1999 | $82.79 | 0.26% |
| 2000 | $88.63 | 7.06% |
| 2001 | $96.52 | 8.90% |
| 2002 | $92.28 | -4.40% |
| 2003 | $99.33 | 7.65% |
| 2004 | $104.06 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $115.08 | 10.59% |
| 2006 | $125.15 | 8.75% |
| 2007 | $128.96 | 3.05% |
| 2008 | $141.42 | 9.66% |
| 2009 | $135.43 | -4.24% |
| 2010 | $137.67 | 1.66% |
| 2011 | $141.65 | 2.89% |
| 2012 | $140.76 | -0.63% |
| 2013 | $144.76 | 2.84% |
| 2014 | $150.79 | 4.17% |
| 2015 | $147.92 | -1.90% |
| 2016 | $147.10 | -0.55% |
| 2017 | $152.54 | 3.70% |
| 2018 | $155.26 | 1.79% |
| 2019 | $155.93 | 0.43% |
| 2020 | $156.80 | 0.56% |
| 2021 | $167.47 | 6.80% |
| 2022 | $191.68 | 14.46% |
| 2023 | $196.35 | 2.44% |
| 2024 | $202.32 | 3.04% |
| 2025 | $208.81 | 3.21%* |
* 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 Fuels and utilities:
| 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 22.200 | 22.477 | 22.585 | 23.062 | 23.623 | 24.323 | 24.815 | 25.369 | 25.946 | 26.262 | 26.331 | 26.562 | 26.638 | 26.631 | 26.738 | 27.062 | 27.415 | 28.046 | 29.131 | 31.115 | 32.485 | 34.346 | 40.646 | 45.415 | 49.438 | 54.723 | 58.454 | 64.754 | 75.392 | 86.400 | 94.931 | 100.223 | 104.838 | 106.531 | 104.115 | 103.031 | 104.438 | 107.769 | 111.615 | 115.262 | 117.800 | 121.315 | 122.785 | 123.654 | 127.508 | 130.754 | 128.462 | 128.800 | 137.892 | 150.169 | 143.562 | 154.538 | 161.892 | 179.038 | 194.700 | 200.632 | 220.018 | 210.696 | 214.187 | 220.367 | 218.986 | 225.207 | 234.589 | 230.129 | 228.855 | 237.315 | 241.554 | 242.598 | 243.949 | 260.540 | 298.208 | 305.478 | 314.768 | 324.863 |