According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor fuel are 156.40% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $31.28 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Motor fuel experienced an average inflation rate of 2.16% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor fuel costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $51.28 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.89% during this same period, inflation for motor fuel was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 11.33%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for motor fuel during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for motor fuel was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor fuel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 11.33% |
| 1982 | $18.96 | -5.22% |
| 1983 | $18.32 | -3.33% |
| 1984 | $18.04 | -1.55% |
| 1985 | $18.19 | 0.85% |
| 1986 | $14.22 | -21.86% |
| 1987 | $14.79 | 4.05% |
| 1988 | $14.91 | 0.82% |
| 1989 | $16.32 | 9.43% |
| 1990 | $18.66 | 14.30% |
| 1991 | $18.33 | -1.76% |
| 1992 | $18.26 | -0.38% |
| 1993 | $18.07 | -1.04% |
| 1994 | $18.16 | 0.49% |
| 1995 | $18.43 | 1.52% |
| 1996 | $19.60 | 6.32% |
| 1997 | $19.59 | -0.06% |
| 1998 | $17.00 | -13.23% |
| 1999 | $18.57 | 9.26% |
| 2000 | $23.85 | 28.42% |
| 2001 | $22.99 | -3.58% |
| 2002 | $21.50 | -6.49% |
| 2003 | $25.03 | 16.43% |
| 2004 | $29.57 | 18.14% |
| 2005 | $36.08 | 22.00% |
| 2006 | $40.76 | 12.96% |
| 2007 | $44.08 | 8.16% |
| 2008 | $51.57 | 16.97% |
| 2009 | $37.24 | -27.78% |
| 2010 | $44.10 | 18.42% |
| 2011 | $55.80 | 26.52% |
| 2012 | $57.65 | 3.32% |
| 2013 | $56.03 | -2.82% |
| 2014 | $53.92 | -3.76% |
| 2015 | $39.29 | -27.14% |
| 2016 | $34.74 | -11.58% |
| 2017 | $39.23 | 12.92% |
| 2018 | $44.60 | 13.70% |
| 2019 | $43.01 | -3.57% |
| 2020 | $36.00 | -16.29% |
| 2021 | $48.88 | 35.77% |
| 2022 | $64.59 | 32.13% |
| 2023 | $57.76 | -10.56% |
| 2024 | $54.71 | -5.29% |
| 2025 | $51.28 | -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 |