According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor fuel are 1,977.48% higher in 2024 versus 1946 (a $395.50 difference in value).
Between 1946 and 2024: Motor fuel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor fuel costing $20 in the year 1946 would cost $415.50 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for motor fuel was higher.
In the year 1946: Pricing changed by 1.84%, which is below the average yearly change for motor fuel during the 1946-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1946 (8.47%), inflation for motor fuel was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor fuel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1946. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | $20.00 | 1.84% |
| 1947 | $22.54 | 12.70% |
| 1948 | $25.70 | 14.01% |
| 1949 | $26.39 | 2.68% |
| 1950 | $26.14 | -0.94% |
| 1951 | $26.91 | 2.95% |
| 1952 | $27.63 | 2.66% |
| 1953 | $29.42 | 6.49% |
| 1954 | $29.97 | 1.87% |
| 1955 | $30.52 | 1.84% |
| 1956 | $31.54 | 3.34% |
| 1957 | $32.77 | 3.89% |
| 1958 | $32.30 | -1.42% |
| 1959 | $32.69 | 1.21% |
| 1960 | $33.65 | 2.92% |
| 1961 | $33.29 | -1.07% |
| 1962 | $33.49 | 0.61% |
| 1963 | $33.39 | -0.28% |
| 1964 | $33.22 | -0.51% |
| 1965 | $34.69 | 4.43% |
| 1966 | $35.35 | 1.88% |
| 1967 | $36.37 | 2.90% |
| 1968 | $36.92 | 1.52% |
| 1969 | $38.13 | 3.27% |
| 1970 | $38.44 | 0.81% |
| 1971 | $38.70 | 0.66% |
| 1972 | $39.17 | 1.23% |
| 1973 | $42.97 | 9.69% |
| 1974 | $58.22 | 35.49% |
| 1975 | $62.17 | 6.79% |
| 1976 | $64.76 | 4.16% |
| 1977 | $68.50 | 5.78% |
| 1978 | $71.42 | 4.26% |
| 1979 | $96.68 | 35.37% |
| 1980 | $134.31 | 38.92% |
| 1981 | $149.52 | 11.33% |
| 1982 | $141.72 | -5.22% |
| 1983 | $137.00 | -3.33% |
| 1984 | $134.88 | -1.55% |
| 1985 | $136.02 | 0.85% |
| 1986 | $106.29 | -21.86% |
| 1987 | $110.59 | 4.05% |
| 1988 | $111.51 | 0.82% |
| 1989 | $122.03 | 9.43% |
| 1990 | $139.48 | 14.30% |
| 1991 | $137.03 | -1.76% |
| 1992 | $136.51 | -0.38% |
| 1993 | $135.09 | -1.04% |
| 1994 | $135.76 | 0.49% |
| 1995 | $137.82 | 1.52% |
| 1996 | $146.52 | 6.32% |
| 1997 | $146.44 | -0.06% |
| 1998 | $127.06 | -13.23% |
| 1999 | $138.83 | 9.26% |
| 2000 | $178.29 | 28.42% |
| 2001 | $171.91 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $160.75 | -6.49% |
| 2003 | $187.16 | 16.43% |
| 2004 | $221.10 | 18.14% |
| 2005 | $269.75 | 22.00% |
| 2006 | $304.71 | 12.96% |
| 2007 | $329.58 | 8.16% |
| 2008 | $385.52 | 16.97% |
| 2009 | $278.44 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $329.73 | 18.42% |
| 2011 | $417.18 | 26.52% |
| 2012 | $431.03 | 3.32% |
| 2013 | $418.88 | -2.82% |
| 2014 | $403.15 | -3.76% |
| 2015 | $293.72 | -27.14% |
| 2016 | $259.71 | -11.58% |
| 2017 | $293.25 | 12.92% |
| 2018 | $333.42 | 13.70% |
| 2019 | $321.53 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $269.16 | -16.29% |
| 2021 | $365.44 | 35.77% |
| 2022 | $482.86 | 32.13% |
| 2023 | $431.85 | -10.56% |
| 2024 | $415.50 | -3.79%* |
* 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 | 301.394 |