The Cost of Gas the Year You Were Born

More than a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, gas prices have fallen to about $3.44 this week. Though last year's record spike above $5 was attributed to the war, major price fluctuations don’t always occur during times of upheaval and crisis. Using data from the Department of Energy, Cheapism determined the average cost of a gallon of gas every year from 1940 through today, showing the price in 2023 dollars. (Prices are for regular leaded through 1990, then for regular unleaded.) Despite constant ups and downs and the 2022 pain at the pump, significant swings in gas prices are relatively rare.

Related: How Gas Stations Have Transformed Over the Past Century

• Price per gallon: 18 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.90

Related: Ways to Fill Up for Less at the Gas Station

• Price per gallon: 19 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.05

Related: How to Get Better Gas Mileage

• Price per gallon: 20 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.83

Related: What People Will (and Won't) Do if Gas Gets Even Pricier

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.74

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• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.63

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.55

• Price per gallon: 21 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.47

• Price per gallon: 23 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.22

• Price per gallon: 26 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.30

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.38

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.46

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• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.20

• Price per gallon: 27 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.07

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.28

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.24

• Price per gallon: 29 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.27

• Price per gallon: 30 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.37

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.38

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.16

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.22

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.18

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.13

• Price per gallon: 31 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.13

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.97

• Price per gallon: 30 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.92

• Price per gallon: 31 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.99

• Price per gallon: 32 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.03

• Price per gallon: 33 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.02

• Price per gallon: 34 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3 

• Price per gallon: 35 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.96

• Price per gallon: 36 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.87

• Price per gallon: 36 cents
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

• Price per gallon: 36 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.64

• Price per gallon: 39 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.75

• Price per gallon: 53 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.42

• Price per gallon: 57 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.29

• Price per gallon: 59 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

• Price per gallon: 62 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

• Price per gallon: 63 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.03

• Price per gallon: 86 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.79

• Price per gallon: $1.19 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.60

• Price per gallon: $1.31 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.53

• Price per gallon: $1.22 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.89

• Price per gallon: $1.16 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.57

• Price per gallon: $1.13 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.34

• Price per gallon: $1.12 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.19

• Price per gallon: 86 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.36

• Price per gallon: 90 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.43

• Price per gallon: 90 cents 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.34

• Price per gallon: $1 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.48

• Price per gallon: $1.15 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

• Price per gallon: $1.14 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.55

• Price per gallon: $1.13 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.46

• Price per gallon: $1.11 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.34

• Price per gallon: $1.11 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.28

• Price per gallon: $1.15 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.30

• Price per gallon: $1.23 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.40

• Price per gallon: $1.23 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.33

• Price per gallon: $1.06 
• Adjusted for inflation: $1.97

• Price per gallon: $1.17 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.14

• Price per gallon: $1.51 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.69

• Price per gallon: $1.46 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.51

• Price per gallon: $1.36 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.31

• Price per gallon: $1.59 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.63

• Price per gallon: $1.88 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.05

• Price per gallon: $2.30 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.63

• Price per gallon: $2.59 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.93

• Price per gallon: $2.80 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.16

• Price per gallon: $3.27 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.66

• Price per gallon: $2.35 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.35

• Price per gallon: $2.79 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.87

• Price per gallon: $3.53 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.82

• Price per gallon: $3.64 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.83

• Price per gallon: $3.53 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.61

• Price per gallon: $3.37 
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.33

• Price per gallon: $2.45 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.15

• Price per gallon: $2.14 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.72

• Price per gallon: $2.42 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3 

• Price per gallon: $2.72 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.30

• Price per gallon: $2.60 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.11

• Price per gallon: $2.18 
• Adjusted for inflation: $2.54

• Price per gallon: $3.01 
• Adjusted for inflation: $3.46

• Price per gallon: $3.95
• Adjusted for inflation: $4.01