According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor fuel are 1,989.72% higher in 2025 versus 1941 (a $397.94 difference in value).
Between 1941 and 2025: Motor fuel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.68% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor fuel costing $20 in the year 1941 would cost $417.94 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for motor fuel was lower.
In the year 1941: Pricing changed by 5.50%, which is above the average yearly change for motor fuel during the 1941-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1941 (5.11%), inflation for motor fuel was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor fuel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1941. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | $20.00 | 5.50% |
| 1942 | $21.16 | 5.78% |
| 1943 | $21.42 | 1.26% |
| 1944 | $21.49 | 0.32% |
| 1945 | $21.41 | -0.38% |
| 1946 | $21.80 | 1.84% |
| 1947 | $24.57 | 12.70% |
| 1948 | $28.01 | 14.01% |
| 1949 | $28.77 | 2.68% |
| 1950 | $28.49 | -0.94% |
| 1951 | $29.34 | 2.95% |
| 1952 | $30.12 | 2.66% |
| 1953 | $32.07 | 6.49% |
| 1954 | $32.67 | 1.87% |
| 1955 | $33.27 | 1.84% |
| 1956 | $34.39 | 3.34% |
| 1957 | $35.72 | 3.89% |
| 1958 | $35.21 | -1.42% |
| 1959 | $35.64 | 1.21% |
| 1960 | $36.68 | 2.92% |
| 1961 | $36.29 | -1.07% |
| 1962 | $36.51 | 0.61% |
| 1963 | $36.40 | -0.28% |
| 1964 | $36.22 | -0.51% |
| 1965 | $37.82 | 4.43% |
| 1966 | $38.53 | 1.88% |
| 1967 | $39.65 | 2.90% |
| 1968 | $40.25 | 1.52% |
| 1969 | $41.57 | 3.27% |
| 1970 | $41.91 | 0.81% |
| 1971 | $42.18 | 0.66% |
| 1972 | $42.71 | 1.23% |
| 1973 | $46.84 | 9.69% |
| 1974 | $63.47 | 35.49% |
| 1975 | $67.78 | 6.79% |
| 1976 | $70.60 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $74.68 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $77.86 | 4.26% |
| 1979 | $105.40 | 35.37% |
| 1980 | $146.42 | 38.92% |
| 1981 | $163.01 | 11.33% |
| 1982 | $154.50 | -5.22% |
| 1983 | $149.35 | -3.33% |
| 1984 | $147.04 | -1.55% |
| 1985 | $148.29 | 0.85% |
| 1986 | $115.87 | -21.86% |
| 1987 | $120.57 | 4.05% |
| 1988 | $121.56 | 0.82% |
| 1989 | $133.03 | 9.43% |
| 1990 | $152.06 | 14.30% |
| 1991 | $149.39 | -1.76% |
| 1992 | $148.82 | -0.38% |
| 1993 | $147.27 | -1.04% |
| 1994 | $148.00 | 0.49% |
| 1995 | $150.24 | 1.52% |
| 1996 | $159.73 | 6.32% |
| 1997 | $159.64 | -0.06% |
| 1998 | $138.52 | -13.23% |
| 1999 | $151.35 | 9.26% |
| 2000 | $194.37 | 28.42% |
| 2001 | $187.41 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $175.25 | -6.49% |
| 2003 | $204.03 | 16.43% |
| 2004 | $241.04 | 18.14% |
| 2005 | $294.07 | 22.00% |
| 2006 | $332.18 | 12.96% |
| 2007 | $359.30 | 8.16% |
| 2008 | $420.29 | 16.97% |
| 2009 | $303.55 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $359.46 | 18.42% |
| 2011 | $454.80 | 26.52% |
| 2012 | $469.89 | 3.32% |
| 2013 | $456.65 | -2.82% |
| 2014 | $439.50 | -3.76% |
| 2015 | $320.21 | -27.14% |
| 2016 | $283.13 | -11.58% |
| 2017 | $319.70 | 12.92% |
| 2018 | $363.49 | 13.70% |
| 2019 | $350.52 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $293.43 | -16.29% |
| 2021 | $398.39 | 35.77% |
| 2022 | $526.40 | 32.13% |
| 2023 | $470.79 | -10.56% |
| 2024 | $445.87 | -5.29% |
| 2025 | $417.94 | -6.26%* |
* 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 |
| 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 | 296.674 | 278.093 |