According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fuels and utilities are 725.84% higher in 2026 versus 1974 (a $145.17 difference in value).
Between 1974 and 2026:Fuels and utilities experienced an average inflation rate of 4.14% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fuels and utilities costing $20 in the year 1974 would cost $165.17 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for fuels and utilities was higher.
In the year 1974: Pricing changed by 18.32%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fuels and utilities during the 1974-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1974 (11.05%), inflation for fuels and utilities was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fuels and utilities, over time, for $20 beginning in 1974. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | $20.00 | 18.32% |
| 1975 | $22.35 | 11.75% |
| 1976 | $24.33 | 8.86% |
| 1977 | $26.93 | 10.69% |
| 1978 | $28.76 | 6.81% |
| 1979 | $31.86 | 10.78% |
| 1980 | $37.10 | 16.44% |
| 1981 | $42.52 | 14.60% |
| 1982 | $46.72 | 9.88% |
| 1983 | $49.32 | 5.57% |
| 1984 | $51.59 | 4.61% |
| 1985 | $52.43 | 1.61% |
| 1986 | $51.24 | -2.27% |
| 1987 | $50.70 | -1.04% |
| 1988 | $51.40 | 1.37% |
| 1989 | $53.03 | 3.18% |
| 1990 | $54.93 | 3.57% |
| 1991 | $56.72 | 3.26% |
| 1992 | $57.97 | 2.21% |
| 1993 | $59.70 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | $60.42 | 1.21% |
| 1995 | $60.85 | 0.71% |
| 1996 | $62.75 | 3.12% |
| 1997 | $64.34 | 2.54% |
| 1998 | $63.22 | -1.75% |
| 1999 | $63.38 | 0.27% |
| 2000 | $67.86 | 7.06% |
| 2001 | $73.90 | 8.90% |
| 2002 | $70.65 | -4.40% |
| 2003 | $76.05 | 7.65% |
| 2004 | $79.67 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $88.11 | 10.59% |
| 2006 | $95.81 | 8.75% |
| 2007 | $98.73 | 3.05% |
| 2008 | $108.27 | 9.66% |
| 2009 | $103.68 | -4.24% |
| 2010 | $105.40 | 1.66% |
| 2011 | $108.44 | 2.89% |
| 2012 | $107.76 | -0.63% |
| 2013 | $110.83 | 2.84% |
| 2014 | $115.44 | 4.17% |
| 2015 | $113.25 | -1.90% |
| 2016 | $112.62 | -0.55% |
| 2017 | $116.78 | 3.70% |
| 2018 | $118.87 | 1.79% |
| 2019 | $119.38 | 0.43% |
| 2020 | $120.05 | 0.56% |
| 2021 | $128.21 | 6.80% |
| 2022 | $146.75 | 14.46% |
| 2023 | $150.33 | 2.44% |
| 2024 | $154.90 | 3.04% |
| 2025 | $163.25 | 5.39% |
| 2026 | $165.17 | 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 |