According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuels and utilities are 933.26% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $186.65 difference in value).
Between 1972 and 2026:Fuels and utilities experienced an average inflation rate of 4.42% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuels and utilities costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $206.65 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for fuels and utilities was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 4.39%, which is below the average yearly change for fuels and utilities during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for fuels and utilities was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuels and utilities, 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 | 4.39% |
| 1973 | $21.15 | 5.75% |
| 1974 | $25.02 | 18.32% |
| 1975 | $27.96 | 11.75% |
| 1976 | $30.44 | 8.86% |
| 1977 | $33.69 | 10.69% |
| 1978 | $35.99 | 6.81% |
| 1979 | $39.87 | 10.78% |
| 1980 | $46.42 | 16.44% |
| 1981 | $53.20 | 14.60% |
| 1982 | $58.45 | 9.88% |
| 1983 | $61.71 | 5.57% |
| 1984 | $64.55 | 4.61% |
| 1985 | $65.59 | 1.61% |
| 1986 | $64.10 | -2.27% |
| 1987 | $63.44 | -1.04% |
| 1988 | $64.30 | 1.37% |
| 1989 | $66.35 | 3.18% |
| 1990 | $68.72 | 3.57% |
| 1991 | $70.96 | 3.26% |
| 1992 | $72.53 | 2.21% |
| 1993 | $74.69 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | $75.60 | 1.21% |
| 1995 | $76.13 | 0.71% |
| 1996 | $78.51 | 3.12% |
| 1997 | $80.50 | 2.54% |
| 1998 | $79.09 | -1.75% |
| 1999 | $79.30 | 0.27% |
| 2000 | $84.90 | 7.06% |
| 2001 | $92.46 | 8.90% |
| 2002 | $88.39 | -4.40% |
| 2003 | $95.15 | 7.65% |
| 2004 | $99.68 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $110.24 | 10.59% |
| 2006 | $119.88 | 8.75% |
| 2007 | $123.53 | 3.05% |
| 2008 | $135.47 | 9.66% |
| 2009 | $129.73 | -4.24% |
| 2010 | $131.87 | 1.66% |
| 2011 | $135.68 | 2.89% |
| 2012 | $134.83 | -0.63% |
| 2013 | $138.66 | 2.84% |
| 2014 | $144.44 | 4.17% |
| 2015 | $141.69 | -1.90% |
| 2016 | $140.91 | -0.55% |
| 2017 | $146.11 | 3.70% |
| 2018 | $148.73 | 1.79% |
| 2019 | $149.37 | 0.43% |
| 2020 | $150.20 | 0.56% |
| 2021 | $160.41 | 6.80% |
| 2022 | $183.61 | 14.46% |
| 2023 | $188.08 | 2.44% |
| 2024 | $193.80 | 3.04% |
| 2025 | $204.25 | 5.39% |
| 2026 | $206.65 | 1.17%* |
* 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 22.200 | 22.475 | 22.583 | 23.067 | 23.625 | 24.325 | 24.817 | 25.367 | 25.942 | 26.258 | 26.333 | 26.558 | 26.642 | 26.633 | 26.742 | 27.058 | 27.417 | 28.050 | 29.133 | 31.117 | 32.483 | 34.350 | 40.642 | 45.417 | 49.442 | 54.725 | 58.450 | 64.750 | 75.392 | 86.400 | 94.933 | 100.225 | 104.842 | 106.533 | 104.117 | 103.033 | 104.442 | 107.767 | 111.617 | 115.258 | 117.800 | 121.317 | 122.783 | 123.650 | 127.508 | 130.750 | 128.458 | 128.800 | 137.892 | 150.167 | 143.558 | 154.542 | 161.892 | 179.042 | 194.700 | 200.632 | 220.018 | 210.696 | 214.187 | 220.367 | 218.986 | 225.208 | 234.589 | 230.129 | 228.855 | 237.315 | 241.554 | 242.598 | 243.949 | 260.540 | 298.208 | 305.478 | 314.768 | 331.744 | 335.637 |