According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of gasoline, unleaded regular rose 630%, from $0.61 per gallon in 1976 to $4.48 in September 2026. Overall prices rose 492% over the same period, so gasoline, unleaded regular rose faster than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
Gasoline, unleaded regular prices are 613.08% higher in 2026 versus 1976 (a $3.74 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2026, Gasoline, unleaded regular experienced an average inflation rate of 4.01% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, gasoline, unleaded regular costing $0.61 in the year 1976 would cost $4.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.59% during this same period, inflation for gasoline, unleaded regular was higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
The average price for gasoline, unleaded regular 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 gasoline, unleaded regular, 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) | $3.97 | $3.97 |
| 2025 | $3.26 | $3.41 |
| 2024 | $3.45 | $3.71 |
| 2023 | $3.66 | $4.04 |
| 2022 | $4.09 | $4.71 |
| 2021 | $3.05 | $3.79 |
| 2020 | $2.17 | $2.83 |
| 2019 | $2.64 | $3.47 |
| 2018 | $2.74 | $3.67 |
| 2017 | $2.41 | $3.31 |
| 2016 | $2.14 | $3.01 |
| 2015 | $2.45 | $3.48 |
| 2014 | $3.37 | $4.79 |
| 2013 | $3.53 | $5.10 |
| 2012 | $3.64 | $5.35 |
| 2011 | $3.53 | $5.28 |
| 2010 | $2.79 | $4.31 |
| 2009 | $2.35 | $3.69 |
| 2008 | $3.27 | $5.11 |
| 2007 | $2.80 | $4.55 |
| 2006 | $2.59 | $4.33 |
| 2005 | $2.30 | $3.96 |
| 2004 | $1.88 | $3.35 |
| 2003 | $1.59 | $2.91 |
| 2002 | $1.36 | $2.54 |
| 2001 | $1.46 | $2.78 |
| 2000 | $1.51 | $2.95 |
| 1999 | $1.17 | $2.36 |
| 1998 | $1.06 | $2.19 |
| 1997 | $1.23 | $2.59 |
| 1996 | $1.23 | $2.64 |
| 1995 | $1.15 | $2.54 |
| 1994 | $1.11 | $2.53 |
| 1993 | $1.11 | $2.58 |
| 1992 | $1.13 | $2.71 |
| 1991 | $1.14 | $2.82 |
| 1990 | $1.16 | $3.00 |
| 1989 | $1.02 | $2.78 |
| 1988 | $0.95 | $2.69 |
| 1987 | $0.95 | $2.81 |
| 1986 | $0.93 | $2.85 |
| 1985 | $1.20 | $3.76 |
| 1984 | $1.21 | $3.93 |
| 1983 | $1.24 | $4.20 |
| 1982 | $1.30 | $4.52 |
| 1981 | $1.38 | $5.11 |
| 1980 | $1.25 | $5.09 |
| 1979 | $0.90 | $4.19 |
| 1978 | $0.67 | $3.46 |
| 1977 | $0.66 | $3.65 |
| 1976 | $0.61 | $3.64 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through September. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Gasoline, unleaded regular, over time, for $0.61 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $0.61 | - |
| 1977 | $0.65 | 6.86% |
| 1978 | $0.68 | 4.87% |
| 1979 | $0.92 | 34.91% |
| 1980 | $1.27 | 38.24% |
| 1981 | $1.42 | 11.41% |
| 1982 | $1.34 | -5.37% |
| 1983 | $1.30 | -3.23% |
| 1984 | $1.28 | -1.63% |
| 1985 | $1.29 | 1.02% |
| 1986 | $1.00 | -22.69% |
| 1987 | $1.04 | 3.74% |
| 1988 | $1.04 | 0.38% |
| 1989 | $1.13 | 8.79% |
| 1990 | $1.29 | 14.31% |
| 1991 | $1.27 | -1.70% |
| 1992 | $1.27 | -0.45% |
| 1993 | $1.25 | -1.66% |
| 1994 | $1.25 | 0.60% |
| 1995 | $1.28 | 1.83% |
| 1996 | $1.36 | 6.51% |
| 1997 | $1.36 | -0.07% |
| 1998 | $1.17 | -14.11% |
| 1999 | $1.28 | 9.89% |
| 2000 | $1.66 | 29.90% |
| 2001 | $1.60 | -3.65% |
| 2002 | $1.50 | -6.73% |
| 2003 | $1.75 | 17.13% |
| 2004 | $2.08 | 18.60% |
| 2005 | $2.54 | 22.35% |
| 2006 | $2.88 | 13.18% |
| 2007 | $3.12 | 8.26% |
| 2008 | $3.63 | 16.57% |
| 2009 | $2.62 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $3.11 | 18.66% |
| 2011 | $3.95 | 26.80% |
| 2012 | $4.07 | 3.19% |
| 2013 | $3.95 | -3.12% |
| 2014 | $3.79 | -4.04% |
| 2015 | $2.73 | -27.88% |
| 2016 | $2.40 | -12.05% |
| 2017 | $2.72 | 13.08% |
| 2018 | $3.09 | 13.71% |
| 2019 | $2.97 | -3.84% |
| 2020 | $2.47 | -16.85% |
| 2021 | $3.39 | 37.16% |
| 2022 | $4.47 | 32.02% |
| 2023 | $3.99 | -10.78% |
| 2024 | $3.78 | -5.29% |
| 2025 | $3.55 | -6.14% |
| 2026 | $4.35 | 22.65%* |
* 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 Gasoline, unleaded regular:
| Year | 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 | 46.625 | 49.825 | 52.250 | 70.492 | 97.450 | 108.567 | 102.742 | 99.425 | 97.808 | 98.808 | 76.392 | 79.250 | 79.550 | 86.542 | 98.925 | 97.242 | 96.808 | 95.200 | 95.767 | 97.517 | 103.867 | 103.792 | 89.150 | 97.967 | 127.258 | 122.608 | 114.358 | 133.950 | 158.867 | 194.367 | 219.983 | 238.151 | 277.607 | 200.479 | 237.888 | 301.650 | 311.274 | 301.569 | 289.398 | 208.711 | 183.571 | 207.579 | 236.040 | 226.973 | 188.739 | 258.872 | 341.765 | 304.937 | 288.798 | 271.074 | 332.473 |