According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor fuel are 2,002.33% higher in 2024 versus 1937 (a $400.47 difference in value).
Between 1937 and 2024: Motor fuel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor fuel costing $20 in the year 1937 would cost $420.47 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.61% during this same period, inflation for motor fuel was lower.
In the year 1937: Pricing changed by 4.43%, which is above the average yearly change for motor fuel during the 1937-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1937 (3.72%), inflation for motor fuel was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor fuel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1937. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | $20.00 | 4.43% |
| 1938 | $19.32 | -3.38% |
| 1939 | $18.17 | -5.97% |
| 1940 | $17.74 | -2.37% |
| 1941 | $18.72 | 5.50% |
| 1942 | $19.80 | 5.78% |
| 1943 | $20.05 | 1.26% |
| 1944 | $20.11 | 0.32% |
| 1945 | $20.04 | -0.38% |
| 1946 | $20.40 | 1.84% |
| 1947 | $23.00 | 12.70% |
| 1948 | $26.22 | 14.01% |
| 1949 | $26.92 | 2.68% |
| 1950 | $26.67 | -0.94% |
| 1951 | $27.45 | 2.95% |
| 1952 | $28.19 | 2.66% |
| 1953 | $30.01 | 6.49% |
| 1954 | $30.58 | 1.87% |
| 1955 | $31.14 | 1.84% |
| 1956 | $32.18 | 3.34% |
| 1957 | $33.43 | 3.89% |
| 1958 | $32.95 | -1.42% |
| 1959 | $33.35 | 1.21% |
| 1960 | $34.33 | 2.92% |
| 1961 | $33.96 | -1.07% |
| 1962 | $34.17 | 0.61% |
| 1963 | $34.07 | -0.28% |
| 1964 | $33.90 | -0.51% |
| 1965 | $35.40 | 4.43% |
| 1966 | $36.06 | 1.88% |
| 1967 | $37.11 | 2.90% |
| 1968 | $37.67 | 1.52% |
| 1969 | $38.91 | 3.27% |
| 1970 | $39.22 | 0.81% |
| 1971 | $39.48 | 0.66% |
| 1972 | $39.97 | 1.23% |
| 1973 | $43.84 | 9.69% |
| 1974 | $59.40 | 35.49% |
| 1975 | $63.43 | 6.79% |
| 1976 | $66.07 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $69.89 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $72.87 | 4.26% |
| 1979 | $98.64 | 35.37% |
| 1980 | $137.02 | 38.92% |
| 1981 | $152.55 | 11.33% |
| 1982 | $144.59 | -5.22% |
| 1983 | $139.77 | -3.33% |
| 1984 | $137.61 | -1.55% |
| 1985 | $138.78 | 0.85% |
| 1986 | $108.44 | -21.86% |
| 1987 | $112.83 | 4.05% |
| 1988 | $113.76 | 0.82% |
| 1989 | $124.49 | 9.43% |
| 1990 | $142.30 | 14.30% |
| 1991 | $139.80 | -1.76% |
| 1992 | $139.27 | -0.38% |
| 1993 | $137.82 | -1.04% |
| 1994 | $138.50 | 0.49% |
| 1995 | $140.60 | 1.52% |
| 1996 | $149.49 | 6.32% |
| 1997 | $149.40 | -0.06% |
| 1998 | $129.63 | -13.23% |
| 1999 | $141.64 | 9.26% |
| 2000 | $181.90 | 28.42% |
| 2001 | $175.39 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $164.01 | -6.49% |
| 2003 | $190.94 | 16.43% |
| 2004 | $225.58 | 18.14% |
| 2005 | $275.20 | 22.00% |
| 2006 | $310.87 | 12.96% |
| 2007 | $336.24 | 8.16% |
| 2008 | $393.32 | 16.97% |
| 2009 | $284.08 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $336.40 | 18.42% |
| 2011 | $425.62 | 26.52% |
| 2012 | $439.75 | 3.32% |
| 2013 | $427.36 | -2.82% |
| 2014 | $411.30 | -3.76% |
| 2015 | $299.67 | -27.14% |
| 2016 | $264.96 | -11.58% |
| 2017 | $299.19 | 12.92% |
| 2018 | $340.17 | 13.70% |
| 2019 | $328.04 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $274.60 | -16.29% |
| 2021 | $372.83 | 35.77% |
| 2022 | $492.63 | 32.13% |
| 2023 | $440.59 | -10.56% |
| 2024 | $420.47 | -4.57%* |
* 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 Motor fuel:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 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 |
| CPI | 13.125 | 13.617 | 14.220 | 13.740 | 12.920 | 12.614 | 13.308 | 14.077 | 14.254 | 14.300 | 14.246 | 14.508 | 16.350 | 18.640 | 19.140 | 18.960 | 19.520 | 20.040 | 21.340 | 21.740 | 22.140 | 22.880 | 23.769 | 23.431 | 23.715 | 24.408 | 24.146 | 24.292 | 24.223 | 24.100 | 25.167 | 25.640 | 26.385 | 26.785 | 27.662 | 27.885 | 28.069 | 28.415 | 31.169 | 42.231 | 45.100 | 46.977 | 49.692 | 51.808 | 70.131 | 97.423 | 108.462 | 102.800 | 99.377 | 97.838 | 98.669 | 77.100 | 80.223 | 80.885 | 88.515 | 101.177 | 99.400 | 99.023 | 97.992 | 98.477 | 99.969 | 106.285 | 106.223 | 92.169 | 100.708 | 129.331 | 124.700 | 116.608 | 135.762 | 160.385 | 195.669 | 221.031 | 239.070 | 279.652 | 201.978 | 239.178 | 302.619 | 312.660 | 303.850 | 292.435 | 213.062 | 188.389 | 212.721 | 241.861 | 233.234 | 195.242 | 265.083 | 350.261 | 313.257 | 298.951 |