Energy
Gasoline, midgrade unleaded, per gallon
The price of midgrade gas
A gallon of midgrade gas cost $1.19 in December 1993 and $4.96 in September 2026.
In Sep 2026 dollars it cost $2.74 in December 1993, so it is 81% more expensive now after inflation. The record is $5.37, in June 2022; the low was $1.06, in February 1999.
The Dec 1993 price in Sep 2026 dollars: what it cost then, in today’s money.
- In one year
- up 30.4%From $3.80 in Sep 2025
- In ten years
- up 101.9%From $2.46 in Sep 2016
- Record high
- $5.37June 2022
- Record low
- $1.06February 1999
Midgrade gas, per gallon, every month since Dec 1993
Price at the timeIn Sep 2026 dollarsSolid line, yellow area: the average price in each month, in the dollars of that month. Dashed blue line: the same price restated in Sep 2026 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U). Where the dashed line falls, the item got cheaper compared with everything else. Hover, tap or use the arrow keys to read any month.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average price series APU000074715 (U.S. city average); CPI-U CUUR0000SA0.
A January in every decade
“Now vs then” is the plain change on the shelf. “After inflation” compares the old price in Sep 2026 dollars with today’s: negative means it takes less of today’s money than it did.
| Month | Price then | In today’s $ | Now vs then | After inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2000 | $1.40 | $2.79 | up 254.6% | up 77.6% |
| Jan 2010 | $2.85 | $4.43 | up 74.0% | up 11.9% |
| Jan 2020 | $2.90 | $3.79 | up 70.9% | up 30.8% |
Year by year
Averages of the monthly prices in each calendar year, newest first. Years with fewer than nine published months are left out; partial years are marked.
| Year | Average | vs year before | Lowest month | Highest month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20269 of 12 months | $4.45 | up 19.9% | $3.44 Jan | $5.10 May |
| 2025 | $3.71 | down 4.1% | $3.54 Dec | $3.80 Sep |
| 2024 | $3.87 | down 4.9% | $3.58 Dec | $4.19 Apr |
| 2023 | $4.07 | down 8.0% | $3.75 Dec | $4.42 Sep |
| 2022 | $4.43 | up 30.4% | $3.72 Jan | $5.37 Jun |
| 2021 | $3.40 | up 34.9% | $2.66 Jan | $3.83 Nov |
| 2020 | $2.52 | down 15.1% | $2.22 May | $2.90 Jan |
| 2019 | $2.96 | down 2.2% | $2.60 Jan | $3.22 May |
| 2018 | $3.03 | up 12.6% | $2.74 Dec | $3.20 Jun |
| 2017 | $2.69 | up 12.2% | $2.56 Feb | $2.89 Sep |
Every year back to 1994
| Year | Average | vs year before | Lowest month | Highest month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $2.40 | down 10.7% | $2.03 Feb | $2.62 Jun |
| 2015 | $2.69 | down 24.4% | $2.32 Dec | $3.06 Jul |
| 2014 | $3.55 | down 3.5% | $2.78 Dec | $3.88 Jun |
| 2013 | $3.68 | down 2.4% | $3.42 Nov | $3.88 Mar |
| 2012 | $3.77 | up 3.2% | $3.48 Dec | $4.05 Apr |
| 2011 | $3.66 | up 25.7% | $3.21 Jan | $4.06 May |
| 2010 | $2.91 | up 17.8% | $2.78 Feb | $3.10 Dec |
| 2009 | $2.47 | down 27.0% | $1.91 Jan | $2.78 Nov |
| 2008 | $3.38 | up 16.2% | $1.82 Dec | $4.21 Jul |
| 2007 | $2.91 | up 8.2% | $2.37 Jan | $3.23 May |
| 2006 | $2.69 | up 12.4% | $2.34 Nov | $3.10 Jul |
| 2005 | $2.39 | up 20.9% | $1.92 Jan | $3.02 Sep |
| 2004 | $1.98 | up 17.2% | $1.69 Jan | $2.13 Jun |
| 2003 | $1.69 | up 14.8% | $1.58 Jan | $1.84 Mar |
| 2002 | $1.47 | down 6.7% | $1.23 Jan | $1.56 Oct |
| 2001 | $1.58 | down 1.7% | $1.23 Dec | $1.87 May |
| 2000 | $1.60 | up 26.9% | $1.40 Jan | $1.71 Jun |
| 1999 | $1.26 | up 8.9% | $1.06 Feb | $1.40 Dec |
| 1998 | $1.16 | down 12.7% | $1.09 Dec | $1.23 Jan |
| 1997 | $1.33 | up 0.3% | $1.27 Dec | $1.37 Sep |
| 1996 | $1.32 | up 6.4% | $1.22 Feb | $1.41 May |
| 1995 | $1.24 | up 2.0% | $1.20 Nov | $1.32 Jun |
| 1994 | $1.22 | — | $1.16 Mar | $1.29 Aug |
About this number
- What this number is. The average price BLS records for “Gasoline, unleaded midgrade, per gallon/3.785 liters” across U.S. cities, collected for the Consumer Price Index. It is an average across many stores and brands, not a price at any one store.
- Today’s dollars. Prices are restated in Sep 2026 dollars by multiplying by CPI-U for Sep 2026 (336.94) and dividing by CPI-U for the month in question.
Sources
- BLS series APU000074715: Gasoline, unleaded midgrade, per gallon/3.785 litersU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. city average, monthly
- Average price data: what it is and how it is collectedU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Average price data filesdownload.bls.gov, files updated Oct 14, 2026
- up 34.2% from a year earlier Regular gasper gallon Oldest price, 197660.5¢September 2026: $4.48
- up 33.0% from a year earlier Gasolineper gallon Oldest price, 197863.1¢September 2026: $4.63
- up 28.2% from a year earlier Premium gasper gallon Oldest price, 1981$1.47September 2026: $5.43
- up 69.7% from a year earlier Dieselper gallon Oldest price, 1998$1.25September 2026: $6.33
- up 4.3% from a year earlier Electricityper kWh Oldest price, 19784.6¢September 2026: 19.6¢
- up 5.4% from a year earlier Natural gasper therm Oldest price, 197830.4¢September 2026: $1.70
- up 64.9% from a year earlier Heating oilper gallon Oldest price, 197853.3¢September 2026: $5.92