According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor fuel are 2,044.39% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $408.88 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Motor fuel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.59% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor fuel costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $428.88 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for motor fuel was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -6.61%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for motor fuel during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for motor fuel was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor fuel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -6.61% |
| 1940 | $19.68 | -1.61% |
| 1941 | $20.57 | 4.52% |
| 1942 | $21.75 | 5.76% |
| 1943 | $22.02 | 1.24% |
| 1944 | $22.10 | 0.35% |
| 1945 | $22.02 | -0.35% |
| 1946 | $22.42 | 1.81% |
| 1947 | $25.14 | 12.12% |
| 1948 | $28.54 | 13.52% |
| 1949 | $29.52 | 3.43% |
| 1950 | $29.21 | -1.05% |
| 1951 | $30.07 | 2.95% |
| 1952 | $30.96 | 2.96% |
| 1953 | $32.52 | 5.03% |
| 1954 | $33.65 | 3.49% |
| 1955 | $34.02 | 1.11% |
| 1956 | $35.18 | 3.41% |
| 1957 | $36.73 | 4.39% |
| 1958 | $36.21 | -1.40% |
| 1959 | $36.65 | 1.21% |
| 1960 | $37.72 | 2.92% |
| 1961 | $37.32 | -1.06% |
| 1962 | $37.54 | 0.59% |
| 1963 | $37.44 | -0.27% |
| 1964 | $37.24 | -0.52% |
| 1965 | $38.30 | 2.84% |
| 1966 | $39.43 | 2.96% |
| 1967 | $40.77 | 3.40% |
| 1968 | $41.39 | 1.52% |
| 1969 | $42.76 | 3.30% |
| 1970 | $43.09 | 0.78% |
| 1971 | $43.37 | 0.66% |
| 1972 | $43.92 | 1.25% |
| 1973 | $48.16 | 9.68% |
| 1974 | $65.27 | 35.51% |
| 1975 | $69.70 | 6.79% |
| 1976 | $72.59 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $76.79 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $80.06 | 4.26% |
| 1979 | $108.38 | 35.37% |
| 1980 | $150.56 | 38.91% |
| 1981 | $167.61 | 11.32% |
| 1982 | $158.87 | -5.22% |
| 1983 | $153.57 | -3.33% |
| 1984 | $151.19 | -1.55% |
| 1985 | $152.48 | 0.85% |
| 1986 | $119.15 | -21.86% |
| 1987 | $123.98 | 4.05% |
| 1988 | $125.00 | 0.82% |
| 1989 | $136.79 | 9.44% |
| 1990 | $156.36 | 14.30% |
| 1991 | $153.61 | -1.75% |
| 1992 | $153.03 | -0.38% |
| 1993 | $151.44 | -1.04% |
| 1994 | $152.18 | 0.49% |
| 1995 | $154.49 | 1.51% |
| 1996 | $164.25 | 6.32% |
| 1997 | $164.16 | -0.05% |
| 1998 | $142.43 | -13.23% |
| 1999 | $155.63 | 9.27% |
| 2000 | $199.87 | 28.42% |
| 2001 | $192.71 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $180.21 | -6.49% |
| 2003 | $209.80 | 16.42% |
| 2004 | $247.86 | 18.14% |
| 2005 | $302.38 | 22.00% |
| 2006 | $341.58 | 12.96% |
| 2007 | $369.46 | 8.16% |
| 2008 | $432.17 | 16.97% |
| 2009 | $312.14 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $369.62 | 18.42% |
| 2011 | $467.67 | 26.52% |
| 2012 | $483.18 | 3.32% |
| 2013 | $469.57 | -2.82% |
| 2014 | $451.93 | -3.76% |
| 2015 | $329.27 | -27.14% |
| 2016 | $291.14 | -11.58% |
| 2017 | $328.74 | 12.92% |
| 2018 | $373.77 | 13.70% |
| 2019 | $360.44 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $301.73 | -16.29% |
| 2021 | $409.66 | 35.77% |
| 2022 | $541.29 | 32.13% |
| 2023 | $484.11 | -10.56% |
| 2024 | $458.48 | -5.29% |
| 2025 | $436.06 | -4.89% |
| 2026 | $428.88 | -1.65%* |
* 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 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 13.130 | 13.550 | 14.208 | 13.858 | 12.942 | 12.733 | 13.308 | 14.075 | 14.250 | 14.300 | 14.250 | 14.508 | 16.267 | 18.467 | 19.100 | 18.900 | 19.458 | 20.033 | 21.042 | 21.775 | 22.017 | 22.767 | 23.767 | 23.433 | 23.717 | 24.408 | 24.150 | 24.292 | 24.225 | 24.100 | 24.783 | 25.517 | 26.383 | 26.783 | 27.667 | 27.883 | 28.067 | 28.417 | 31.167 | 42.233 | 45.100 | 46.975 | 49.692 | 51.808 | 70.133 | 97.425 | 108.458 | 102.800 | 99.375 | 97.833 | 98.667 | 77.100 | 80.225 | 80.883 | 88.517 | 101.175 | 99.400 | 99.025 | 97.992 | 98.475 | 99.967 | 106.283 | 106.225 | 92.167 | 100.708 | 129.333 | 124.700 | 116.608 | 135.758 | 160.383 | 195.667 | 221.033 | 239.070 | 279.652 | 201.978 | 239.178 | 302.619 | 312.660 | 303.849 | 292.435 | 213.062 | 188.389 | 212.721 | 241.861 | 233.234 | 195.242 | 265.083 | 350.261 | 313.257 | 296.674 | 282.168 | 277.520 |